A few days ago I asked Trey Cunningham to write a letter to the freshmen version of himself. Truth be told, Im going to miss Trey. The last two years Ive sought him out in every meet we were both at -- not necessarily for an interview, but because he is just a cool kid to talk to. If you havent taken the time to get to know him, it's your loss. He's going to do big things in the future.
Dear fourteen year old Trey,
Go with the flow and don't try and please everyone, it's not possible. You will be fine in anything you want to pursue. High school is but a stepping stone that will help you reach your goals. High school also will teach you a lot about yourself and a lot about others as well. It will teach you how to approach people and express your self to get your point across. You will become very close to some people. These friends will be there for you but also break your heart. And it is okay that they will break your heart because it means that you cared and they were only there as place holders for some amazing people that will come along down the road. Never forget where you came from and what has helped shape you.
The second hurdle and it is still a close race....definitely a few years ago.
On the track side of things, don't rush anything, it will come. Your freshman year will teach you what it's like being truly injured and how to handle it. It will also let you know what it is like to be on top of the podium holding a gold medal. You will never forget your first one.
A Sophomore, and already making a name for himself.
Sophomore year is when it's time to buckle down and decide what you want to do with track and field. Redemption will come in your indoor season for the injury of your freshman year. The track world will also begin to take notice of you for these efforts. Outdoor will be an uphill battle the whole way with a nagging injury. You will also find out what it is like at a national level through New Balance Nationals and AAU JO's.
Not quite a National Champion....yet.
Junior year is the time to go big or go home. College coaches are now beginning to look at you even though you don't know it. Indoor was another spectacular season and backed up by your also spectacular outdoor season being US number one, for both, for some of the year. This year you get to meet some amazing people just because you are fast. It helps to be really good at what you do. You will get to travel out of the country for the first time and go to Cuba. This is where you will make lifelong friends and even a best friend. Your New Balance Outdoor nationals race will be one to remember with three, you included, of the fastest high school hurdlers to ever run. The college letters, calls, and decisions that have to be made will become a lot and almost like work trying to figure out where you want to spend the next four years of your life and potentially a majority of your life.
Trey breaks the indoor 60H record (again) at the New Balance Nationals Indoor Meet.
Senior year rolls around school is going great, practice is rocking, and you finally figure out where you want to go to college. You will tell the world right before indoor season starts and the world goes nuts. You finally figure out what it is like to have fame. Enjoy your fame because one day it will get even harder to manage and also one day it will be gone. Your last high school indoor season starts, it's not sad, you are happy that you can end it and move on to the next step because you feel like you have accomplished everything that you could at the high school level. The season is basically perfect, US number one for the entire season, and then you do something that is for the record books. A world record will be in your grasp and you seize it and destroy the time. The entire world takes notice and you are finally someone in this gigantic world that you live in. Outdoor will be a lack luster season, even though you were US number one until the end, you knew there was more in the tank. An injury will derail the season, one unlike any other that you have dealt with before. Then in a blink of an eye, it's time for you to move off to college and the potential is limitless.
Best of luck,
Trey Cunningham
U20 World Record Holder and proud Florida State Seminole
