While the IAAF World Youth Championships progress in Cali, Colombia, one of the world's brightest young under-18 stars in Vashti Cunningham of Bishop Gorman High School in Nevada is making a statement right here in the United States.
The 17-year-old, who herself measures six feet and three quarter inches, jumped 6-3 to set the AAU Club Nationals record this morning in Kissimmee, Florida.
The jump is the third best of her career and her best since no-heighting at the Nevada State Championships in May. Cunningham set the National High School Record of 6-4.25 at the Mt. SAC Relays in April, becoming the first schoolgirl in history to jump higher than 6-4.
That mark still ranks No. 1 in the United States and No. 10 in the world this year, inclusive of senior athletes.
Cunningham chose to bypass World Youth, where she would be a considerable favorite, though she is listed on the roster for the Pan-American Junior team. Her brother, Randall, a rising sophomore at the University of Southern California, is also on the roster for Pan Am Juniors as a high jumper. The duo will travel to Edmonton, Canada with the rest of the Team USA contingent at the end of the month for Pan American Junior Athletics Championships.
