2026 World Indoor Preview 6: Trey Cunningham: "No such thing as an off year."

Most years, the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix is the first indoor meet of my season. In 2026 (January 24), one of the interviews that I did was with Trey Cunningham.

Trey Cunningham ran a strong race at the NB Indoor, where he won in 7.48, tying the world lead. Trey had told me just before the Indoor meeting that it was about “presence.” Trey noted that, by focusing on the start and getting a great start, then, his race naturally “comes into play.”

A brilliant 60m hurdles by Dylan Beard and Trey Cunningham, photo by Chuck Aragon

Later in the season, Trey Cunningham ran a 7.37 for the 60 meter hurdles. The 2022 World Champs silver medalist at the 110 meters, Trey Cunningham is painfully honest and highly quotable.

At the U.S. Champs, Trey ran 7.38 in the semi-final. In the final, Trey was off just a bit, and Dylan Beard won in 7.37, and Trey was second in 7.40 seconds. I could see that Trey was a little frustrated with himself. When I asked him, “What did you learn from that race? ” “Well…, ” Trey said, ” 7.40 is pretty fast.” I smiled.

A tough 60m hurdles, with Dylan Beard taking the win and Trey Cunningham in second, photo by Chuck Aragon.

Trey Cunningham won 24 state titles in high school track and field over 4 years. At university, Trey won both the NCAA 60-meter hurdles and the NCAA 110-meter hurdles.

A tremendous athlete, Trey ran a 10.19 PB for the 100 meters at the Grand Slam series.

Trey Cunningham made sure, in the presser at the USATF Indoor, that the media knew he was focused on each season, one season at a time. “There is no such thing as an off year.” Trey gets it. To be a medalist in the 60-meter hurdles, you need a great start, you need to cle

Trey Cunningham, New York City Grand Prix track & field
World Athletics Continental Gold, photo by Kevin Morris

ar six hurdles well, and lean at that finish line, because, in Torun, Poland, it is going to be so very close in that 60-meter hurdle final!

Trey Cunningham was asked at the USATF indoor presser on February 27, by Jay Holder, USATF communications director, if 2026 was going to be a great year for him. Trey looked a little surprised, then noted that in even years, Trey has done well. Trey thought about it for a moment, smiled and seemed to like that possible outcome of the 2026 season.

The Men’s 60-meter hurdles will have a tough field. Trey Cunningham knows who he is racing against (“so and so needs to keep in his lane”, Trey told me in a conspiratorial tone.”).

Trey Cunningham will be ready for Torun.

The Men’s 60m hurdles, Cordell Tinch, Trey Cunningham, photo by Kevin Morris, 2024 Millrose Games

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

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