Gay track star Trey Cunningham sets personal best and breaks 27-year-old record despite losing his luggage
Trey Cunningham had a golden day at the Golden Gala track meet despite a travel snafu. The out gay athlete set a personal best in his event.
Mark
Trey Cunningham had quite the journey at the Golden Gala track meet in Rome. He set a meet record in the 110-meter hurdles that had stood for 27 years and he did it all despite losing his luggage.
Cunningham, who is gay, ran the hurdles in 12.98 seconds, the fastest in the world this year and the first time he has broken the elusive sub-13 second mark. In the race, he set a personal best, a meet record and the fastest time of the season.
“This was a long time coming,” Cunningham said. “Beating the meeting record set 27 years ago by Allen Johnson, who is an all-time great, is special.”
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Cunningham was one of the stars of the Miami meet with wins in the 110-meter hurdles and 100-meter sprint.
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Losing his luggage caused Cunningham to scramble. “I had struggles with my travels; my luggage got lost. But I am always ready. I pack an extra pair of spikes and kit for race day in my backpack,” he said.
Cunningham was dubbed “track’s new lover boy” after a successful 2025 season and in a nod to his male model looks. At the world indoor championships this winter, Cunningham won the silver medal in the 60-meter hurdles, continuing his success.
Cunningham, originally from a small town in Alabama, came out as gay in 2024 and has not looked back. His next goal this year is to win the 100-meter hurdles at the first World Athletics Ultimate Championship, where the top 16 athletes in each track and field discipline will compete for a first-place check of $150,000.
“I am very excited for the World Ultimate Championships,” Cunningham said. “It’s going to be 16 fastest people and only one winner. We don’t get to race a lot so I will enjoy it. The motto this year is to enjoy what is happening right now.”
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