Cunningham captures national championship
FSU Athletics
By Tim Hofmann
FSU Athletics
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – One of the greatest hurdlers in world history finally got his title.
FSU senior Trey Cunningham got the monkey off his back last Saturday night when he won the 60-meter hurdles national title. The achievement was witnesses by several teammates, coaches, family members and friends at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Alabama.
Cunningham left no doubt in the championship race, clocking in a staggering 7.38, improving his previous personal best time by .02 seconds. Cunningham’s time is the 11th-fastest in the history of the sport and was just 0.03 seconds off the collegiate record. Cunningham became the first Nole to win an indoor national title since Dentarious Locke in 2014. Cunningham is also just the second Nole to win a title in the 60-meter hurdles, joining Drew Bunson who won the title in 2008.
“I’m so happy for Trey to finally win the NCAA title. Until today, he was probably the greatest collegiate track athlete ever to not win a national title,” head coach Bob Braman said. “He’s No. 2 all-time indoors, and he has a chance to be the best ever in outdoors.”
Don’dre Swint was the only other male athlete to compete for the Noles on the final day of competition. After the starting block sensors malfunctioned, officials elected to rerun the race with all but two athletes already completing the full 60 meters. In the second go around, Swint finished seventh with a time of 6.68. The men ended the meet with 17 points and tied for the 13th.
“I’m really pleased with our men. They’ve fought through adversity all year, and the crew here in Birmingham ran to their utmost abilities,” Braman said.
Lauren Ryan capped off a phenomenal indoor season with another solid race in the 3000m run. Ryan finished fourth with a time of 9:01.37 in her first-ever NCAA Indoor Championships to earn first team All-America honors.
“I’m really pleased for Lauren. With this being her first NCAA Indoor Championship, she handled herself well and ran a tactical race. I’m really excited for her to chase a national title in the outdoor season,” Braman said.
The Seminoles will have a quick turnaround as the outdoor season begins in Miami and Auburn this weekend for their first outdoor meets of the year.
