Kicking off his 2025 outdoor season with a bang at the Tom Jones Memorial in Gainesville this April, one 26-year-old from Alabama is on one hell of a run. With a scorching 13.09 seconds, he not only snagged the world lead but also beat Grant Holloway in the process. But what was special about this win was that this was Grant’s first loss on home soil in 11 years. But while everyone is buzzing about this new phenom of the 110m hurdles, Trey Cunningham himself has a different goal in mind. And this might be around the tracks.

Well, since Holloway’s been sidelined with a knee injury, Cunningham has truly stepped into the spotlight. But how did he pull off such a massive statement? He quickly proved it wasn’t a fluke at the Grand Slam Track Miami in May, where he matched his personal best with a blistering 13.00 seconds. He left top hurdlers like Sasha Zhoya (13.06s) and Freddie Crittenden (13.09s) in his dust.

And if that wasn’t enough, he showed off his raw speed the very next day by clocking a sizzling 10.17 seconds in the 100m! Track legend Justin Gatlin perfectly captured the vibe, saying, “When I see the time that Trey’s running right now, I hear a theme song… ‘I got money in the bank.’” Gatlin emphasized Cunningham’s confidence and determination from the start of the season.

He also hit on a key point about hurdling: “When a hurdler has a rhythm, it’s very hard to beat that hurdler.” Is this incredible rhythm the secret to Trey’s current dominance? With Holloway out of commission, Cunningham has become the man to beat. He kept his winning streak going at the Adidas Atlanta City Games on May 17, cruising to a 13.16-second victory over Crittenden (13.33s), showing just how consistently good he is.

Gatlin commented, “This might be just an average race for Trey. So if that’s the case, if you’re out there running 13.1, with no real competition… You might run something special.” It makes you wonder: if he’s putting up world-class times without even being pushed, what could he achieve when the stakes are super high? As the World Championships get closer, everyone’s got their eyes on Cunningham to see if he can keep this amazing streak going.

Will he completely shake up the 110m hurdles scene, or will Holloway’s return ignite an epic rivalry for the ages? It’s going to be thrilling to watch!

Where did Trey start from?

Trey Cunningham’s journey from a quiet, small town in Alabama to the bright lights of track stardom? That’s a story of pure grit and an incredible heart. Growing up in Winfield, he started with dreams of basketball, but the track had other plans for him. By the time he left Winfield City High in 2017, he was already being called a hurdles prodigy.

He then went on to Florida State University, where he dominated, clinching two NCAA 110m hurdles championships by 2022, including a blazing 13.00-second personal best at the 2022 NCAA Championships. His silver medal at the 2022 World Championships and then his incredible sweep at the 2024 Grand Slam Track Miami—winning both the 110m hurdles in 13.00 seconds and the 100m in 10.17 seconds—even earned him a cool $100,000.

It shows how much his mental game plays a part when he says, “If there’s something we want to achieve, we say it. Putting it in words makes it real.” So, how did 2025 become such a pivotal year, cementing his legacy even further? In 2025, Cunningham just kept on soaring. His impressive sweep at the Miami Grand Slam truly cemented his status as a dual-threat sprinter, and now he’s got his sights set on Philadelphia’s Grand Slam from May 30th to June 1st.

With his incredible speed and inspiring spirit, the biggest question on everyone’s mind is, can Trey Cunningham carry this momentum to glory till Paris 2028? Well, we all wait to see.