Randall Cunningham’s daughter wins accolades, eyes Rio

It’s tough being the child of an athletic legend; their feats are always looming over you. But it helps if you can vault right over those feats with some record-breaking achievements of your own.

Vashti Cunningham is the daughter of former NFL MVP Randall Cunningham, and she’s well on the way to carving out her own legend. Vashti Cunningham competed in the world indoor track and field championships this weekend, and came away with a world championship.

Cunningham cleared six feet, five inches in the high jump to win gold, the youngest female ever to do so. “I’m excited on the inside and keeping it calm on the outside,” she said. “It means a lot to be the world champion this young. I did not think that I would not be here right now at 18 years old.”

Cunningham already owns the high school record in the high jump, a record she achieved last week at the U.S. indoor championships. She now faces the choice of college or professional competition. She’ll also take a run at the U.S. Olympic team that’s headed to Rio later this summer. But before that, she’s got work to do in the classrom.

“She has to go back to school tomorrow,” her father said.

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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports and the author of EARNHARDT NATION. Contact him at [email protected] or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.