Katie Corner, a technitian pay specialist, works on payroll during her full time job at the Georgia Department of Defense's Property and Fiscal Office. When she is not working she is practicing for the Olympic Trials as a discus thrower. (Georgia National Guard photo by Spc. Amanda Kenny)
Hidden Treasure:

Olympic hopeful among USPFO staff

Story by Spc Amanda Kenny
Public Affairs Office

ATLANTA, Ga. – In the halls of the Unites States Property and Fiscal Office you may find a future Olympic medalist. Katie Corner a technician pay specialist is an Olympic hopeful who spends her off hours practicing the ancient art of discus throwing.

Corner said she practices four to five days a week, lifting weights and throwing the discus. “Right now my coach (Mike Judge of Throw 1 Deep in Marietta) and I are working on lifting less and throwing lighter and further. I am constantly going to meets,” she said.

“My first goal is to get to the trials,” said Corner. “Everyone needs some reason to work that hard for something and I want to make sure it’s worth it.”

The Olympic trials are slated for Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, in June. The trials test athletes from across the nation in track and field events. In order to make it to the trials, Corner had to compete in an official meet. The top three at the trials will go on to the Olympics.

 “It’s a lot of hard work and sacrifice,” said Corner. “It’s hard to keep your end goal in mind but as long as you stay focused it’s easier to do.”

 The Michigan native started throwing the discus in 8th grade because “we were really bad at softball,” she laughed. “When you stink at something you might as well try something else.”

 Corner started to throw the discus more in high school, than later began specializing in just discus and shot-put. “With my build, I couldn’t be a distance runner,” she said, even though in middle school she did everything from running to throwing.

 She continued to throw the discus in college at Michigan’s Calvin State University, where she worked with coach Norm Zylstra. In 2007, Corner moved to Georgia after Zylstra encouraged her to work with Judge in order to better herself and get ready for the trials.

 Corner, when not practicing, coaches young throwers at the Lovett School and has been with them for two years now. She has been throwing discus for more than 12 years.

 The USPFO office has been trying to help Corner get to the trials and has been holding bake sales and other events to raise money to help her get there.

   

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