Get to Know Lehigh University Track and Field Multi, Corinn Brewer

Name: Corinn Brewer Hometown: Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania High School: Greensburg Central Catholic (GCC) High School. “GCC provided a firm foundation for my Catholic faith through religion classes and weekly masses. Learning more about what I believe in and why it serves me well today to be able to talk to people intelligently about my Catholic faith and Christianity as a whole. GCC set me up for success academically through the rigor of classes and amazing teachers. I learned how to communicate well and study thoroughly and effectively. My time at GCC taught me that nothing will come easy in college and life, and that I must work hard to achieve my goals academically, athletically, or otherwise. I was able to build on my foundation of track and field during my time at GCC. The school served as a place to learn what hard work means and see that hard work pay off in competition. I also shifted my focus from distance to power based events, which gave me the opportunity to be recruited for both disciplines and decide which I wanted to focus on in college. GCC instilled in me values of respect, integrity, humility, and gratitude. I take these values and apply them to all aspects of my life. Without my foundation at GCC, I would not be where I am today and I’m grateful to be an alumni from this amazing school.” High School Varsity Sports: Cross Country, Gymnastics, and Track and Field Track and Field Accolades:: In track and field, she’s become a Women’s Decathlon U20 American Record Holder, a 2021 National Women’s Decathlon Runner-up, placed fifth in the Women’s Decathlon World Championships in 2025, ran the fastest decathlon 1500m run in US history, ran the second fastest decathlon 1500m run in World history, broke five USATF Junior Olympic Track and Field American Records, 13-time All-American: National Champion in steeplechase and 1500mm, placed nationally in 10 other events; ten-time state place-winner in pole vault, 800m,1600m, 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and high jump; two-time Westmoreland County MVP, six-time Westmoreland County Champion, Team Most Valuable Player, and team captain.

Gymnastics Accolades: Nine-time Pennsylvania state qualifier, two-time PA state place winner in vault and bars; Level 9 Competitive High school gymnast, WPIAL Advanced Level All-Around Qualifier; and a founding member of the gymnastics program at GCC. Cross Country Accolades: 2021 WPIAL Champion, 2020 WPIAL Runner-up, three-peat Westmoreland County Champion, placed third in PIAA states, won every high school dual meet she ran in during high school, and was a four-time Team Most Valuable Runner. Academic High School Achievements: Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Fair – Best in Category and Perfect Score; Duquesne University Award of Excellence; Society of Women Engineers Best Presentation; Innovation Award Member for three years, Pennsylvania Regional Science Fair – Association for Bridge Construction Design Award; Michael Baker International Award, Certificate of Excellence, and first place in category, Award for Senior Physics Division,and member for three years, graduated from GCC in 2022 and ranked second in her class with a 4.36 grade-point average; Desmone Architects Externships for four years, Tri-M Music Honor Society, treasurer for two years and Recruitment Chair;; Student Council, Math League, Reading Team, Society of Women Engineers, and Band Percussion Leader for four years; National Art Honor Society-Scholarship Chair, National Honor Society-Secretary, Spanish Honor Society,

Community Service: St. Sebastian Cross Country Team Volunteer Head Coach, City Mission Shelter, Greater Pittsburgh, Westmoreland County Food Banks, St. Vincent DePaul Store, Volunteer Gymnastics Coach, Youth Track & Field Coach, Volunteer YWCA Model, Campus Ministry, Eucharistic Minister, and Church Lector and Cantor College Sport: Track and Field Events: Heptathlon and pole vault in college and decathlon in competition outside the NCAA Current Institution: Lehigh University. Lehigh is a private, research university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The school competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Patriot League. The Mountain Hawks community is home to around 7,700 students. Previous Institution: University of Notre Dame Why She Chose Lehigh: “I chose to attend Lehigh because of the support of my academic choices, while also being able to compete as a multi at the collegiate level. It is very nice to be able to come home a little more easily now that I’m back in Pennsylvania.” Track and Field Beginnings: “I started competing in track and field when I was five-years-old. I started competing in pole vault the summer before my seventh grade season. I have been a multi since I was old enough to do the triathlon for United States of American Track and Field (USATF) competitions at the junior level beginning at age nine. I started the pentathlon at age 11 for USATF and the heptathlon at age 15. My first decathlon was at age 18. I compete in the heptathlon in the college season, but the decathlon I compete in during competition outside the collegiate season in the summer months because this event is only offered to men at the collegiate and Olympic level at this time. Women are limited to the seven event heptathlon.” Intended Major and Future Plans: Brewer is studying architecture and will earn an undergraduate degree and a master’s in the subject in the coming years. “I chose to study architecture because I love design, creativity, and problem solving, and architecture intertwines each of those into one discipline. I want to design single family homes and build relationships with the clients I work with. On the other hand, I also want to work on larger scale urban design and adaptive reuse projects focused on sustainability, regeneration, resilience, and equity.” Balancing Her Talents: “In the very near future, I plan to use my extra years of eligibility competing in track and field while getting a master’s degree in architecture. If it be God’s will, I would love to focus on track and field professionally and train for the 2032 and 2036 Olympics and then start my architectural career after that. We will see what presents itself in the coming years.” How Gymnastics Aided in Track and Field: “My gymnastics background has been so integral in my success as a track and field athlete. Gymnastics taught me hard work, determination, and to never give up. These are attributes that directly apply to track and field, as it takes many many many years to come close to perfecting any one event, and I have 10 to learn as a competitive decathlete. Gymnastics has also taught me body awareness and has given me the upper body strength I need to excel in events like pole vault and the throwing events. Gymnastics made me powerful and explosive which helps me in almost every event that I compete in in track and field. I miss gymnastics quite often, actually. I still go back to my club gym and train whenever I am on college breaks. Not only do I love seeing what skills I can still do, I also love staying in touch with the girls and coaches that I grew up with. I am honored to be an inspiration to the younger generation who is following in my footsteps at the gym.”

Her Support System: “My four brothers and my parents, Judy and Mike, have been there for me through my ups and downs in athletics, academics, and personally. Also, my gymnastics coach, Miss Charity, has been by my side since I was two years old, always lending an open ear to listen to me talk about personal experiences and athletic and academic situations. She cares about me more than just as an athlete, but as a human being as well. My college professors and priests have helped me through discernment processes by listening to me and asking good questions to help me think through options well. I’m grateful for all those in my life.” Top Few Athletic Memories: “A top sports memory is my trip to AAU Nationals with my dad in 2020. My dad and I were the only ones in my family to make the trip down to Florida. It was very memorable spending time with him and growing closer to him during that week. I also became a National Champion and National Runner-Up at that meet, so that made the experience even better. Another core memory is competing at the Level 9 Gymnastics State Championships my senior year in 2022 with two of my closest teammates. It was bittersweet knowing that would be the last time we competed together, but I loved being able to experience that last competition with them. A very new, but important memory is competing in the Women’s Decathlon World Championships last year and this year. I am honored to be paving the way for the generation of female athletes coming after me. It is very memorable competing with other trail blazers who are working to bring the women’s decathlon into the Olympics. I will remember winning the pole vault and 1500m events within the decathlon both years and thus far having run the second fastest 1500m time ever by a woman in the world in a decathlon.” Overcoming Injuries in College: In high school, Brewer did battle shin splints. However, this was relatively minor compared to what she’s faced in her collegiate track and field career the last four years. “During college, I suffered a concussion at Notre Dame, putting me out of competition for the indoor and outdoor seasons. The following summer I fractured my lower back and was out for my sophomore year indoor and outdoor seasons. I was healthy for my junior year indoor season and then tore the AC joint in my shoulder in the very beginning of outdoor season, putting me out for this season until our league championships. In addition to these big injuries, I have also sustained minor ones like heel bruises, twisted ankles, and recurring shin splints. Right now, I am still experiencing some pain from my AC joint injury. I have been going to physical therapy to strengthen muscles around the injury. My shoulder is feeling better than it was at the beginning of summer, so I am grateful for that. These injuries were just as tough mentally as they were physically. Having my injuries take many months to heal rather than weeks like I was expecting, I started to doubt whether I would ever recover, and if it would be too late for me to get back to my level of competitiveness from before my injuries. It was difficult seeing my body lose muscle tone due to my lack of ability to exercise. Thankfully, I brought my struggles, doubts, fears, and worries to God and prayed for Him to make me mentally strong. I prayed for Him to continually remind me that He is in control of my life and His plan for me is so much better than I could ever imagine. Remembering that He is the perfector and author of my life helped me to get through these tough times of injury and doubt.” Most Recent Successes in Athletics and Fitness: “I earned sixth place in the pole vault and pentathlon at the indoor Patriot League Championships, placed eighth in the heptathlon at the outdoor Patriot League Championships, I lettered for both the indoor and outdoor seasons, I earned fifth place in the Women’s Decathlon World Championships and secured four points for Team USA, I ran the second fastest 1500m time ever in the world in the decathlon, and I started a mental fitness training module for young and older athletes alike on the “Focus 5” app from Hearts and Minds Sports Psychology. Her Training Course: “It is a 10-day course where I talk about my journey as an athlete and as a person and how mental fitness and sports psychology play a role in different aspects of my life. I go over some of the science behind these mental fitness techniques, and I leave the audience with questions so that they can reflect on themselves and grow in their mental fitness to aid in their athletic and academic performances as well as success in life.”

Photo courtesy of Donald Paul.