Vashti Cunningham’s athletic gifts also can be traced to mother

EUGENE, Ore.

The Dance Theatre of Harlem is an American professional ballet company and school based in the northern section of the New York City borough of Manhattan. The school, founded in 1969, is known for being the first major ballet company to prioritize black dancers.

It’s also where Vashti Cunningham can trace her exceptional athletic gifts, just as much as she does a football field.

You don’t hear as much about Felicity deJager, don’t read quotes from her in the countless stories written on the Olympic pursuits of her daughter or see her on TV nearly as often as her famous husband. She’s in the background far more than not, a native of South Africa and comfortable to let others talk and bask in the spotlight as she quietly enjoys her daughter’s rise to fame.

But when Vashti walks into Hayward Stadium on Sunday afternoon to compete in the women’s high jump final at the U.S. Track and Field Trials, this close to realizing her dream of qualifying for the Rio Games next month, her journey will have been defined by the sort of family balance an 18-year-old who has emerged a major face in American track needs.

“My mom is a very strong woman,” Vashti said. “I go to her when I need to replay something in life, and she walks me through it. She keeps me calm. With my dad, it’s always work, work, work. But my mom plays just as big a role in everything we do. She keeps me relaxed. She reminds me I’m still human and what that means. I appreciate her so much.”

Felicity attended the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and if you think professional ballerinas aren’t some of the more athletic types walking the planet, try to execute your basic pirouette or adage, followed by a series of grand allegro jumps.

Good luck to your head, shoulders, knees and toes …

Not to mention your ankles and hamstrings.

Other than humming your favorite children’s song as each ligament stretches to ungodly lengths, you’re basically defying the natural limits of muscle.

So for as much athleticism as Vashti inherited from her father — Randall played quarterback in 161 games over 16 NFL seasons — the coordination and flexibility and strength needed to be an elite high jumper are traits you would more compare to a dancer.

I saw Felicity speak once at Remnant Ministries, a Sunday morning service in 2010 when her husband delivered his first sermon as pastor since Christian, the couple’s 2½-year-old son, drowned in a backyard hot tub at the family’s home.

She was as graceful then as she is now, embracing Randall at center stage in a way that made clear how impossible it was for most to know the depths of their grief.

“We want you to know,” Felicity told the packed congregation as her voice began to crack and tears began to fall, “that your prayers and support and love … it is all working.”

There is no question Randall as his daughter’s coach combined with his career resume has helped Vashti’s star power rise exponentially this summer. But for as much as he seems to embrace the role of family spokesman, others play pivotal roles in helping Vashti see beyond the next measured height.

She might not be closer to anyone than older brother Randall Jr., an NCAA high jump champion from Southern California who will compete in Eugene in men’s qualifying on Friday. He was in the stands watching her easily qualify for Sunday’s final.

“My brother and I really don’t talk about jumping at all,” Vashti said. “Our dad is already there talking to us all the time about it, so we just keep things chill between us and try to make things as normal as possible, so we aren’t overloaded with information when it comes time to compete.”

The family will be in Eugene again Sunday, when Cunningham as the favorite wants to post a personal record and break the 2-meter barrier, when she undoubtedly will be pushed by fellow Nike athlete and three-time Olympian Chaunte Lowe, whose outgoing and charismatic and animated personality when competing is opposite of the businesslike and steely-eyed approach of Vashti.

Cunningham is 18; Lowe is 32.

“My dad told me everyone likes young and new, too,” Vashti said, “so I think between Chaunte and I, it’s a great combination for Nike.”

She joked on Friday with assembled media about wanting to stay off social media, but being too weak when it comes to Twitter; about how she didn’t know if jumping still would be in the cards at age 40 like just-retired Amy Acuff, but that her father probably still would be there prepping her just in case.

She is a natural around cameras and voice recorders, a mixture of innocence and sophistication and class, and you get the idea much of that also comes from a former professional ballet dancer.

Which makes us wonder: Who would win a jumping contest now between Mom and Dad?

“I don’t know, but I think we could set up a little competition,” Vashti said.

For his sake, let’s hope Randall wouldn’t be asked to execute any pirouettes or grand allegros.

Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be a heard on “Seat and Ed” on Fox Sports 1340 from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Twitter: @edgraney