Against the best female high jumpers in the United States, high school senior Vashti Cunningham jumped 1.99m (6-6.25) to break the world junior indoor high jump record and secure the meet victory on Saturday. The mark increased her high school national record and stands as the U.S. No. 4 all-time. Not No. 4 all-time on the high school list--No. 4 all-time among all Americans indoors, ever. It's the best jump in the world by a woman this year.
The daughter of former NFL legend Randall Cunningham, Vashti showed immense promise last year and earlier this season when she took down 2012 World Indoor Champion Chaunte Lowe at a competition in New Mexico a month ago, proving just how fierce she can be.
Update 3/15: The IAAF invited Cunningham to compete at this weekend's world championships, also in Portland. She did not have the qualifying standard--the window closed on March 7--but her jump at the US championships was a world leader and the IAAF selected her to compete for a world title.
