Bishop Gorman’s Vashti Cunningham sets national record in girls high jump

Bishop Gorman junior Vashti Cunningham broke the national high school record in the girls high jump Saturday at the 57th annual Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.

Cunningham, the daughter of former UNLV and NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham, cleared 6 feet, 4¼ inches to win the event. The previous record was 6-4 set by Toni Young of Del City (Okla.) in 2009, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations record book.

“This is the day. I felt it since I was warming up,” Cunningham said in an interview with Runnerspace.com. “I just knew I’ve been doing all the work I need to do to get it, so I had no doubt in my mind.”

Cunningham failed to get over 6-2 while winning last week’s Arcadia (Calif.) Invitational, but she cleared 6-3 on her first attempt Saturday before her record-breaking jump. She then missed all three of her tries at 6-6.

Cunningham’s previous career best was 6-3, which she accomplished at the Division I Sunset Region meet last season.