Las Vegas high-jumper Vashti Cunningham, 18, turning pro

By Taylor Bern

Monday, March 21, 2016 | 2:34 p.m.

A day after winning gold in the high jump at the world indoor track and field championships, Bishop Gorman High senior Vashti Cunningham announced she’s turning pro.

At this point, the talented 18-year-old looks like she’s on a collision course with this summer’s Rio Olympics.

“I’ve thought long and hard about making a decision, and after praying with my mom and dad, I’ve decided to become a professional athlete,” Cunningham said today while seated between her parents at Remnant Ministries. “I’ve signed with a shoe manufacturer, Nike, and I will finish high school and attend college.”

Competing in Portland over the weekend, Cunningham cleared 6 feet 5 inches. She was actually disappointed with the winning jump, because a week earlier in the same venue she posted the best high jump by a woman this year with 6-6 1/4 to win the U.S. indoor meet, a mark that broke both the junior world record and her own national record.

Cunningham said she still plans to attend college and pursue a degree, but signing with Nike ends her high school and collegiate career.

Her father and coach, former UNLV and NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham, said his daughter would have some time off to relax before continuing to train and then ramping up with the USA Track and Field coaches.

Vashti Cunningham still has to make the team, but it would be surprising not to see her compete for Olympic gold. That could be a lot of pressure, but she has easily cleared every challenge so far.

When it came time to decide whether to go to college or turn pro, Randall Cunningham, a pastor at Remnant Ministries and football coach at Silverado High, told his daughter to weigh all the options and let God guide her to the right choice.

“That was the best advice I could give to her,” he said. And it could lead to her being one of this summer’s breakout stars.