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Lunenburg native Ralph Corning Jr. ended his run at the Virginia Commonwealth Games on top this year, taking gold for shot put and discus in the Masters age group on Sunday, July 21 at Liberty University. 

Corning Jr. took the discus title in dramatic fashion. After his first three throws landed out of bounds, it was Corning Jr.’s fourth and final throw that was the longest of the day, clinching his win in the 60-64+ group. 

The former Victoria resident also collected his fourth gold in shot put since he began competing in the Virginia Commonwealth Games in 2021. Corning Jr. missed the annually-held Games last year while rehabilitating from injuries. So after adding to a trophy case that also includes silver and bronze medals from the Commonwealth Games, Corning Jr. told The Herald this year’s will be his last as he is retiring from competitive track and field. 

“I got two more gold medals so for me it was a good way to end my track and field, field of dreams so to speak,” Corning Jr. said.

He has a long history in the sport dating back to his time at Central High School. A 1982 graduate, he was the district champion for shot put and discus his senior year. As recently as 2023, he held a national ranking in indoor shot put and discus for his age range. 

A lifelong competitor, he said he’s participated in powerlifting and bodybuilding for five decades as well, events he has also won state titles in. Corning Jr. relied on his day-to-day weightlifting routine rather than traditional training for shot put and discus in a throwing area to prepare for this year’s appearance at the Virginia Commonwealth Games. 

“I didn’t practice at all,” Corning said. “I’ve been pumping iron for 50 years this year, so all of my work was done in the gym and with footwork drills.”

Competing despite injuries

Corning Jr. said he has trained and competed through a number of serious injuries during his track and field career. He said he’s competed within 8 days of surgery before. In the past three years alone he’s experienced a torn bicep, undergone a knee replacement, and torn a rotator cuff. 

He said while his eagerness to compete has not waned, his body simply isn’t responding and recovering the way it has previously. According to Corning Jr. the success he’s achieved has been worth the sacrifices and pains along the way, but he is excited for new challenges. 

“In a competition you’re throwing as hard as you possibly can on every throw. I can barely walk today,” Corning Jr. explained the day after the 2024 Games. “I am sore in places that I’d forgotten about. 

“I’ll probably be weight training the rest of my life. But I’m not going to be competing anymore in track and field. I’m going to move onto something else.”