Vashti Cunningham – Randall’s Daughter – Wins World High Jump Title And Announces That She’s Going Pro
by Letsrun.com
March 20, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. — 18-year-old high schooler Vashti Cunningham, the daughter of former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham, won the gold medal in the women’s high jump at the 2016 World Indoor Track and Field Championship as she was the only competitor to clear 6’5″ (1.96m) without a miss.
Three other competitors also cleared 6’5″. Spain’s Ruth Beitia got the silver thanks to her second-attempt clearance (and no misses earlier in the meet) while Poland’s Kamila Licwinko got the bronze. Lithuania’s Airinė Palšytė also cleared the height but didn’t get a medal as she had five previous misses.
Cunningham celebrates
After winning the competition, Cunningham announced that she intends to turn professional in the coming days.
“I believe I’m going to be turning pro so keep on the lookout for me [to announce something],” said Cunningham during an interview on the NBC Sports Network broadcast.
QT: Cunningham is So New to This She Didn’t Even Realize She Had Won When Everyone Else Had Missed
We caught up with Cunningham ourselves after the race. You can watch that interview below.
Cunningham may be the world champion but she’s so inexperienced in the high jump and was so focused on trying to make her final attempt he didn’t even realize she had won the competition when the other competitors all had missed.
When asked which company she wants to sign with she said, “Hopefully Nike.”
Talk about Cunningham on our world famous messageboard / fan forum: MB: Vashti Cunningham Going Pro.
Randall, in addition to being Vashti’s dad, is also her coach
Results
| POS | BIB | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | MARK | DETAIL | 1.84 | 1.89 | 1.93 | 1.96 | 1.99 | 2.01 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 818 | Vashti CUNNINGHAM |  USA |
1.96 | O | O | O | O | XXX | ||
| 2 | 649 | Ruth BEITIA |  ESP |
1.96 | O | O | O | XO | XXX | ||
| 3 | 763 | Kamila LICWINKO |  POL |
1.96 | XO | O | XO | XO | XXX | ||
| 4 | 734 | Airiné PALŠYTÉ |  LTU |
1.96 | XO | O | XXO | XXO | XXX | ||
| 5 | 732 | Levern SPENCER |  LCA |
1.93 | O | O | O | XXX | |||
| 5 | 796 | Sofie SKOOG |  SWE |
1.93 | O | O | O | XXX | |||
| 7 | 703 | Alessia TROST |  ITA |
1.93 | O | O | XO | XXX | |||
| 8 | 792 | Erika KINSEY | SWE |
1.93 | SB | O | XXO | XXO | XXX | ||
| 9 | 748 | Doreen AMATA |  NGR |
1.89 | O | O | XXX | ||||
| 10 | 785 | Lissa LABICHE |  SEY |
1.89 | NIR | O | XXO | XXX | |||
| 10 | 668 | Isobel POOLEY |  GBR |
1.89 | O | XXO | XXX | ||||
| 602 | Priscilla FREDERICK |  ANT |
DNS |