Brad Cunningham went to the NJSIAA indoor state championships at historic Jadwin Gym on the campus of Princeton University last Sunday with a totally open mind.
Brad Cunningham went to the NJSIAA indoor state championships at historic Jadwin Gym on the campus of Princeton University last Sunday with a totally open mind.
“I was just going down there to do my best,” said the Hudson Catholic junior, who throws the shot put and the discus for the Hawks in the winter and the spring. “I knew that there was good competition and I was a little nervous going in. But I didn’t think I could win.”
However, Cunningham had no idea what was about to transpire.
“I guess I got lucky,” Cunningham said.
Not really, but he did get good.
With his second shot put throw of the day, Cunningham unleashed a toss of 54 feet, nine inches – his personal best by nearly two full feet.
“When I let go of it, I stopped and just looked at it, knowing it was a good one,” Cunningham said. “But I didn’t have any idea it would win.”
Cunningham’s impressive toss held up and he became the first track athlete in the school’s history to ever capture a state championship. Cunningham’s throw enabled him to capture the gold medal in Group 3.
Needless to say, Cunningham was stunned by his performance.
“I knew I wasn’t supposed to be there, on top of everyone else,” said Cunningham, who was third in the shot put and second in the discus in last year’s Parochial A state outdoor meet. “There were three guys after me and they all came close, all within a couple of inches. But I won. I was amazed.”
Cunningham said that he spent a good portion of the ride home from Princeton just looking at the medal.
“I never thought it could happen,” Cunningham said. “It still hasn’t hit me.”
Cunningham also never thought that he would participate in track and field at Hudson Catholic. A football player for the Hawks with a very bright future and a college prospect, Cunningham first tried out for the freshman basketball team two years ago, but didn’t like it.
“My family has sort of a tradition in track,” Cunningham said. “My grandfather (Wilbur) ran track in the Army and my father (Brad, Sr.) ran track at Lincoln High School. When I quit the basketball team, my father suggested that I give track a try. So I came out for track and been successful ever since.”
Cunningham said that he almost naturally took to throwing the shot and discus.
“It really did come easy to me,” Cunningham said. “When I came out for track, I didn’t know what I wanted to do.”
Now, he’s found a place. Not to mention, he’s a state champion.
“My family was really proud of me, as well they should be,” said Cunningham, with a broad smile. “It’s a good feeling. No, wait. It’s a great feeling. I’m a state champion. I never even dreamed that could happen.”
However, now that he owns a state championship, there will be pressures to repeat the performances, especially at this weekend’s Hudson County championships at the 163rd Street Armory in New York.
“I think it’s going to help my confidence a lot,” Cunningham said. “I’m going to go out there and give it all I got. Although I can get better, I don’t know if there are many people out there who can beat me.”
It’s apparent that the confidence is already showing, much like it is throughout the entire school these days. A top-ranked hockey team in the state and a track state champion, all in the same week. Not a bad run for the school that sits on McGinley Square.