An atypical athlete

    
    He became the first sprinter in USI history to win an individual conference title at Saturday’s track and field conference tournament. As the oldest runner on the team, Tom Cunningham is not the typical athlete.
    

Cunningham is 27-years-old, but by his looks, it’s hard to tell.
    

“A lot of people, until I tell them how old I am, don’t really think about my age. Most of them think I’m around 23,” Cunningham said.
  

 “I’ve never thought of myself as old,” he added with a laugh.
  

 But he will admit that he’s gained experience and learned about himself on the journey that led him to USI to become a student athlete.
    

Cunningham grew up in Bridgeport, Ill. He came from a very athletic family. His father, Steve, played basketball and baseball for Purdue University and all of his sisters played college basketball, too. His brother, who was born with Down Syndrome, bowls and runs track in the Special Olympics.
    

Cunningham showed the same athletic potential in high school. He played basketball, baseball, golf and one year of track.
  

 After high school, Cunningham left for Vincennes University to pursue an associate’s degree in business administration. He wanted to play baseball there but ended up playing for a semi-professional team— the St. Wendell Swings.  He later transferred to the University of Illinois to finish a bachelor’s degree in marketing.
  

 “I ended up not really liking it, though,” Cunningham said.
    

He was only there for a year before he moved to USI for the first time. He got his bachelor’s degree in psychology.
  

 In 2006 he started at the Illinois State Police Academy where he trained for six months before becoming a state trooper. He worked there for only four months when he had to leave on workman’s compensation for a shoulder injury he sustained while at the academy.
  

 It wasn’t his favorite job anyway, he said.
  

 “There were some things about the job that were interesting and other things that were a pain in the butt,” Cunningham said.
    

“Is it a job that I’d say I truly loved — no. But I learned a lot of things about myself.”
  

 When he could no longer perform his job as a trooper, he decided to once again go back to school.
  

 “I thought I’d come back to school in case I couldn’t work as a trooper anymore, so I had more options,” Cunningham said.
  

 He decided that when he came back this time, he wanted to run again.
  

 He didn’t exactly know where he wanted to continue his schooling, though, until he opened the Bible. Cunningham said Isaiah 40:13 inspired him to return to USI.
  

 “It said, ‘but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint,’” Cunningham said.
  

 Because of these words, he knew he wanted to return to USI and become an Eagle on the track and field team.
  

 The return was not without its difficulties, though.
  

 “At first since I didn’t know anyone, it was hard,” Cunningham said.
  

 He eventually grew closer with his teammates, but not as close as he would have liked because he’s not on campus or even in Evansville much.
  

 He still lives in Bridgeport, Ill., with his family. He makes the one hour and 10 minute drive four times a week to attend class and train with the team.
  

 This is the dedication Cunningham shows in his pursuit of success on the track. He showed this dedication early when attended a track meet by himself early in the season to get extra practice.
    

Though he has another year of eligibility, Cunningham said this will be his only season with the track team. He’s trying to make the most of it.
  

 On Saturday he took first place in the 200 meters at the GLVC conference tournament. He was still 0.3 seconds from a provisional qualifying mark for the national contest.

Cunningham was satisfied with the performance, though.
 

“It felt nice because of all the work I put into it,” he said.
 

He has several more meets to go and will continue in his efforts to make the national contest. Even if he doesn’t, he said he will continue running.
Cunningham will continue training in late spring and early summer to try and qualify for the U.S.A. Track and Field Championship in June.
 

As for his time on USI’s Track and Field team, he’s happy about it.
 

“I think that if didn’t join the team, there’d be a void, a regret. I think there’s still a lot for me to do in track,” Cunningham said.