Vashti Cunningham punched her ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics in the high jump and in doing so became the youngest United States Olympian in the sport since 1980. Cunningham, 18, is the daughter of retired Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Randall Cunningham.
Vashti Cunningham qualifies for Rio Olympics, becomes youngest athlete to make US Track and Field team in 36 years
Vashti Cunningham, daughter of former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham, became the youngest athlete to make the US Track and Field Olympic team since 1980.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
There’s a lot of hype behind her and her potential to earn a medal in the event. Poland’s Kamila Licwinko has the best non-American jump in the world in 2016 at 1.99 meters, a mark that Cunningham cleared at the US indoor championships in March.
In the 2012 London Olympics, Brigetta Barrett took home a silver medal in the event for the United States. Cunningham will be joined on Team USA in the women’s high jump by Chaunte Lowe and Inika McPherson. Lowe is a veteran of three Olympic teams and finished sixth with a height of 1.97 meters in the finals of the London Olympics.
Cunningham won the world indoor title in Portland in March and a day later signed with Nike and turned professional.
Cunningham cleared 1.97 meters in the finals on Monday, qualifying in second place behind Lowe, who managed 2.01 meters to take the top spot. McPherson was third at a height of 1.93 meters.
Randall Cunningham’s son, also named Randall, is a collegiate high jumper at USC.
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