"Everyone went crazy: 7.40 was on the screen and a World record was next to my name."
By Trey Cunningham - Winfield City (AL) High School, Class of 2017
On Saturday, March 11, 2017, I didn't know what was going to happen. My family and I had flown into New York City the day before. This last meet would wrap up one of the best high school indoor seasons in history. Six weeks earlier, I broke the national record for the 60 meter hurdles. Five weeks before, I pulled off another flawless Alabama state meet, winning four events.
This day in March would start the beginning of the best weekend of my high school career.
Saturday morning was filled with normal race day jitters, my normal breakfast routine and focusing on the performance. The Armory is an electric place to compete. It's a tight space with the crowd on top of the track. I was quite the opposite. Relaxed, calm, focused. Warm-up went by super quick. I saw friends from everywhere and watched other performances take place.
I set the blocks down and settled in. The gun went off and I was gone. I established the race early and backed off at hurdle three and cruised. All I heard was the crowd gasp. I thought it was for Mondo's vault.
It was for the World U20 record I just broke.
It never hit me what I did. My mind was in a 'whatever' state because I knew I had more. But I was rushed by friends and the medical staff. Friends congratulated me and medical asked if I needed anything; they let me know USADA had been informed of my race.
All I wanted was lunch and to watch pole vault finish out. But my focus was insane. I knew there was more. I knew I could go faster. The meet directors notified me electronic blocks were being brought in for the semi-final and final. I had to run the time again. One would think this would deter me. But it didn't. The nerves fell away and determination filled in the gaps.
Sunday, March 12, 2017, was cold and snow was falling. A southern boy's dream and distaste. I followed my normal morning routine: The warm-up was the same, and the attitude was killer.
This day in March would start the beginning of the best weekend of my high school career.
USADA was late. I had drug testing 20 minutes before the semi-final shot off. I was rushed and it threw me off a little, but I still ran one of the top five fastest times in history. But I knew my job wasn't done, so I refocused and got ready for the final.
That came quickly, but I was ready to run my race. My mindset was uninhibited. This would be the last time I ever competed at the junior level for indoor.
The gun went off, and then a second more. I learned someone jumped; a false start was awarded to the field. So I reset, and then I was gone. The race went by. The hurdles didn't feel like they were there. I crossed the line and knew it was fast. I hit the mat.
Everyone went crazy: 7.40 was on the screen and a World record was next to my name.
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It has been four years since I broke the World U20 record -- and the mark has since been surpassed by France's Sasha Zhoya, who ran 7.34 in 2020. I look back on it and that day led to a lot of opportunity in my life. It established myself in the track community and allowed me to meet people I never thought I would have met.
Imagine a young high school track fanatic being in contact with professionals they admire. Star struck is an understatement. I got to travel to the IAAF awards and actually met these professionals. Then came respect at outdoor meets -- not only in Alabama, but across the country.
That weekend also brought expectations for a future that was well beyond what I originally believed was in sight. It put internal and external pressures of running fast immediately in college. The world record allowed people to think that I would turn professional early.
It planned my future before I had a say so. I was lucky to not burnout and still pursue my dream of being the best.
But the world record also changed my perception of how I should perform. My own expectations changed from getting better as a hurdler to performing at the highest level every single race. If I didn't secure a personal best, it was a bad race.
This mentality carried into college. It took some time to run for the performance's sake, not the time.
It planned my future before I had a say so. I was lucky to not burnout and still pursue my dream of being the best.
But this moment also changed my life for the better, even with all the challenges. I'm thankful for the opportunities that came out of it. It was a blessing to become the world record holder. I plan on doing it again. The senior level has steep records to topple.
I was the first to ever, officially, dip under 7.50. I plan on making history again.
#AskTrey
@ tejas_shirse "What would you say is the most fundamental and important aspect in hurdles to run a faster race?"
The most fundamental aspect of hurdling is speed. Each race is how fast someone can go from point A to point B. A lot of people think hurdle form is the most important. No one remembers how pretty it was unless you win. Get to the line first.
Want some advice? Ask Trey Cunningham a question using #AskTrey, or DM Trey on Instagram @trey826 or on Twitter @TreyCunningham. One of these questions will be picked to be answered in the next column.
