The following year, Cannon repeated as state champion in the 110 metres hurdles, while also being the state champion in the 55 metres hurdles and 50-yard dash.[6] At the start of 1985, he set a meet record in the 50-yard hurdles.[9] He then won the state championships in the 110 metres hurdles, 55 metres hurdles, 50-yard dash and 100 metres.[6] He competed at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships where he won the 55 metres hurdles and set a Delaware record that lasted for 35 years.[10] He also set a state record in the 110 metres hurdles that stood for 34 years.[10] He was widely reported to be among the best track and field athletes in state history, and The News Journal called him Delaware's "greatest high hurdler".[10][11][12]
Cannon accepted a full athletic scholarship to compete at the collegiate level for the Pittsburgh Panthers.[13] As a freshman in 1986, Cannon was an All-American, set the Pittsburgh record for 50-yard hurdles, and was named All-Big East Conference.[14] In his time at Pittsburgh, Cannon received six All-America selections, twice was a Big East champion and IC4A champion, and set four records still standing as of 2024.[12] He led Pittsburgh to its first Big East track title in 1989, with Cannon placing first in two events.[12][15] He won the 1989 Penn Relays in the 110 metres hurdles and came .02 seconds away from winning the national championship (placing second), running what was then the third-fastest time ever among college athletes in the U.S.[12]
After Cannon graduated from Pittsburgh, he worked as a clerk for a law firm and coached at Delcastle.[3]
