Vashti Cunningham handles Olympic trials with poise of a queen

EUGENE, Ore.

Some background: Vashti is the only female name in the Bible that begins with the letter V. She was queen of Persia and wife to King Ahasuerus. One day, during a banquet, Ahasuerus threw back one too many rums, or whatever the beverage of choice was for 19th-century B.C. royalty, and demanded his wife show off her beauty and dance in front of the gathering.

She refused, telling the king she had better things to do.

He became enraged, believing her defiance would cause other women to follow her lead, and had Vashti stripped of her crown.

In other words, she was dethroned for having an opinion.

“She was very strong-minded,” said Vashti Cunningham of the woman she was named after. “She wouldn’t give into the games of others. That’s how I am. I’m not easily deceived. I’m not going to go over the bridge just because others do.

“Mentally, I have my goals, and I’m going to do everything I can to attain them.”

The nerves she spoke about Friday weren’t apparent minutes earlier, when Cunningham easily advanced through qualifying for the high jump at the U.S. Track and Field Trials before 20,987 at Hayward Stadium.

On Sunday, the 18-year-old Bishop Gorman High School graduate will jump for a berth in the Rio Olympics next month.

Her yellow Nike jacket might have been the brightest piece of athletic wear shining around this majestic and famous facility on the campus of the University of Oregon — and that’s saying a lot if you know anything about the tsunami of swoosh gear at this place — where Cunningham led 11 others into the final.

She passed on the opening height of 1.74 meters, then effortlessly executed 1.79 and 1.84 (6-0½) before Sunday’s field was set.

Crazy things happen at the trials. Pressure mounts and even the greatest have been known to succumb. A reigning Olympic gold medalist such as Sanya Richards-Ross at age 31 just pulls up during a preliminary heat of the women’s 400 meters, as she did Friday, and walks away from the sport.

It’s brutal, emotional stuff.

But to watch Cunningham was to see an athlete far beyond her age when it came to preparation and execution and then dealing with assembled media in the sometimes taxing mixed zone. She wanted to treat the trials like just another meet. That’s sort of impossible given the stakes, but she sure looked the part.

“My dad just told me to take today like a practice, so that’s what I did, and it went well and was smooth,” Cunningham said. “I’m going to attack on Sunday. I’m very confident. I don’t think there is as much pressure on me as others who have been here before. I’m here, but I don’t feel pressure.

“I’m trying to win. I want first place and to go to the Olympics with that kind of confidence.”

Randall Cunningham watched his daughter from the front row of stands — coaches aren’t allowed on the track during the trials — and spent his time offering advice to Vashti as she waited her turn between jumps. Simple stuff. Chill out. Keep warm. Stay in the moment.

“I can hear him calling my name, even if he’s on the other end of the stadium,” Vashti said.

If it wasn’t a passing of the full torch to Cunningham by American high jump royalty, it was definitely one-half a torch.

Amy Acuff also was in Cunningham’s group, and the five-time Olympian is now 40. She failed to make the final, missing three times at 1.79 meters, and immediately retired.

The other half is Chaunte Lowe, a three-time Olympian and American women’s record holder at 2.05 meters. She is 32, another Nike-clad athlete who also needed just two jumps to qualify.

She also appears to have a pretty tight grip on her part of the torch.

“Don’t ever forget about Chaunte,” Acuff said. “I had never seen (Cunningham) jump. She’s really light and elastic and very natural. I’m sure she will have a great career.

“She’s a world indoor champion, so I’m sure she feels some pressure. This is her occupation now. I would tell her to take care of her body. The freeway is littered with Olympic high jumpers who get hurt. Most can’t keep this up in their late 20s without getting hurt, usually their ankles. You have to be really smart about training and realistic about what you can handle while not worrying about all the peripheral stuff.”

Vashti Cunningham didn’t appear all that worried Friday. The most strenuous thing she did might have been continuing to put on and take off that bright yellow Nike jacket.

But the stress level will rise Sunday. The stakes become mighty higher as she jumps for the right to realize her dream of five interlocking rings.

She will attack the moment strong-minded and determined, just like the woman she was named after.

Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be a heard on “Seat and Ed” on Fox Sports 1340 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Twitter: @edgraney