Newly crowned U.S. champion Vashti Cunningham is the youngest high jump finalist in the history of the IAAF World Indoor Championships.
She could soon be the youngest to bring home a medal.
The 18-year-old Cunningham is the top-ranked jumper in the world this year, by virtue of her 1.99m/6-6.25 clearance to win the American title last weekend in a new World Junior Record and National High School Record. The No. 2 seed is 36-year-old Ruth Beitia of Spain, who cleared 1.98m to win the Spanish Championships in February. Beitia won bronze in Sopot two years ago, which made her the oldest-ever medalist in the event, and she owns a PB of 2.02m/6-7.5 (outdoors).
Kamila Licwinko of Poland also has an outdoor PB of 2.02m, though her season-best is 1.97m/6-5.5. The 29-year-old is the defending World Indoor champion.
Cunningham is the United States' only entrant in the women's high jump. The final begins at 1p.m. PT on Sunday, March 20, in Portland, Ore.
Entry list below courtesy of the IAAF:
| ORDER | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | SB 2016 | PB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erika Kinsey | Sweden | 1.87 | 1.97o |
| 2 | Lissa Labiche | Seychelles | 1.85o | 1.92o |
| 3 | Isobel Pooley | Great Britain | 1.93 | 1.97o |
| 4 | Sofie Skoog | Sweden | 1.94 | 1.94 |
| 5 | Priscilla Frederick | Antigua and Barbuda | 1.90 | 1.91o |
| 6 | Doreen Amata | Nigeria | 1.93 | 1.95o |
| 7 | Levern Spencer | St. Lucia | 1.95 | 1.98o |
| 8 | Alessia Trost | Italy | 1.95 | 2.00 |
| 9 | Airiné Palšyté | Lithuania | 1.97 | 1.98 |
| 10 | Kamila Licwinko | Poland | 1.97 | 2.02 |
| 11 | Ruth Beitia | Spain | 1.98 | 2.02o |
| 12 | Vashti Cunningham | USA | 1.99 | 1.99 |
*PB = Personal Best
*o = outdoor