Las Vegas’ Vashti Cunningham Qualifies For Olympics
She is Las Vegas born and raised. She is a Bishop Gorman High School alum who was signed to Nike at 18 years old. Now 26 year old Vashti Cunningham has punched her ticket to her third ever Olympic games.
At the US Track & Field Trials at the absolute cathedral of the sport, Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, Cunningham crushed the high jump at 6 feet, 3.75 inches. It was a tight race for the third and final spot in the Paris Summer Olympics, but she got it and will be able to add another Olympics to her resume.
Vashti Cunningham Has Been A Phenom In The States
While the Olympics haven’t produced a medal for Vashti Cunningham yet (finishing 13th in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Games and 6th in the 2021 Tokyo Summer Games), in the states she has been lights out.
In both national championships and Olympic trials, she has finished in first all but twice out of 15 events. This year’s third place finish marks her lowest result in her career, but there is plenty of upside to her leap. With an improvement in her Olympic trajectory over two games, perhaps it is her third go that will bring her a coveted Olympic medal.
Vashti Is A Cunningham, So It Runs In The DNA
Vashti is a phenom and we are beyond proud to have her in Las Vegas. It took hard work and dedication to get to where she got today. Plus, she had a lot of inspiration for greatness by way of her father.
Her dad is Randall Cunningham, UNLV Rebels football star who went on to a long career as an NFL quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens.
Her uncle? Sam Cunningham who played 10 seasons with the New England Patriots back in the 1970s and 1980s.
Even her brother Randall Jr is a track and field star in his own right. The 6 foot 6 inch phenom played football at Silverado and Bishop Gorman then moved onto USC performing incredibly well including winning the gold in the 2015 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships the same year his sister scored the gold for the women’s division.
Now, it is time for Vashti Cunningham to blaze her own path. Off to Paris she goes with one goal in mind: Olympic gold.
Latest 2024 NFL Power Rankings
10. Cincinnati Bengals
Experts have so many differing opinions on the Bengals. Some think they’ll go to the Super Bowl this year. Some don’t think they’ll be in play at all. I’m somewhere in between. But, Joe Burrow is strong, so he could push them to victory.
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9. Green Bay Packers
As a Detroit Lions fan, it pains me to admit that the Green Bay Packers, once again, will be strong in 2024. They were strong last year. Jordan Love is on his way to being one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Watch out for these guys.
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8. Dallas Cowboys
No offense to Dallas Cowboys fans, but they can be pretty annoying. But, I won’t let that cloud my thoughts on this year’s team. While the Cowboys haven’t spent much in the offseason, they’re still a strong team, and Dak Prescott is a strong quarterback. They’ll be a contender.
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7. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have rebuilt faster than any team I can remember. They were surprisingly stellar last season. I mean, experts thought they would be good, but they were better than good. C.J. Stroud is a superstar.
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6. Philadelphia Eagles
What happened to the Philadelphia Eagles last season? It was a dismal end to what started out as a strong season. I’m sure Eagles fans would like to forget about it. But, the Eagles have spent a lot in this offseason, and they’re determined to fly back.
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5. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are hot or cold. But, Josh Allen is a stellar quarterback, and he still has a lot to prove with this team. He’s great, but he hasn’t been able to lead the Bills to a Super Bowl yet. This could be his year.
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4. Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, hands down. That’s not up for debate. But, the Ravens fell in the AFC championship game last season, and it was a surprise to many. Will Jackson bring the guys back to win it all? It’s a strong possibility.
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3. San Francisco 49ers
I’ve noticed that some NFL experts have the 49ers as the best team in the league next year. I just don’t get it. Sure, Brock Purdy is a great quarterback. But, I don’t see this team really being the best in the league. They almost lost to the Lions in the NFC Championship game last season and ultimately made it to the Big Game but fell short. But, they are always solid.
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2. Detroit Lions
Full discloser: I’m a Detroit Lions fan. As a Michigan native, I’m for all the Detroit teams, especially the Lions and Pistons. But, that’s not why I have them at No. 2 on my 2024 NFL Power Rankings tally. I really think they’re that good. The Lions have spent the most money in the NFL during the offseason, both to secure current talent, such as superstar quarterback Jared Goff, and add new talent. They also came within inches of making it to the Super Bowl last season. I think this is their year.
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1. Kansas City Chiefs
Will it be three in a row for the Kansas City Chiefs? Maybe. The guys have won two Super Bowls in a row now, and they’re still strong. They could do it again, but I think one of the teams on this roster will get in the way. Still, I believe they’re the strongest, most complete team going into the 2024 NFL season.
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