Before she became Georgia's high school thrower of the year and began rewriting the University of Miami track and field record book, Khadija Talley found her true calling during a middle school project.
And it has turned out to be a love even her 2-pound metal discus or budding career can't break.
''In my project I had to pick a career I thought I could be compatible with and research it,'' said Talley, who is the second-ranked discus thrower in the nation.
``I picked being a doctor. I fell in love with it. Ever since, I've always wanted to go to med school and become one. Athletics is just a way for me to get there.''
Talley is on her way. On Thursday, she will graduate with a bachelor's degree in biology. This fall, she plans to attend graduate school at Georgia Southern, where she will study environmental technology. Later, she hopes to get a job in that field so she can pay for medical school. There, she will study pediatrics.
As for the discus and budding track career? They'll be put aside for good, right after Talley aims to become only the sixth female athlete at UM to win a national championship in track.
''It takes a lot to compete professionally for a thrower because it's not as prominent [an event] as sprinting is,'' UM throwing coach Chereé Hicks said. ``You don't get the big contracts sprinters get. To earn a dollar is really, really hard for a thrower.
``If you have die-hard goals to make the Olympics, to keep throwing, then it's easy to make the sacrifice. But if you're just straddling the fence, then the decision is easy for you to go and make money.''
Hicks can relate. As a senior at Syracuse in 2000, she was runner-up in the shot put and discus at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. But soon after competing in the Olympic trials, she went into coaching.
''Olympic trial qualifying in the discus requires a minimum throw of 60 meters, and the best in the world throw at least 65 meters. It usually takes a thrower until they're about 29 or 30 [years old] to really get good at their craft and develop the strength for it,'' Hicks said.
``So, you graduate at 22 and have to put in six, seven years of work. That is a lot of dedication.''
Talley said she's more than satisfied with what she has accomplished. In her last meet at UM, in front of family and friends, she set the school record in the discus at 51.70 meters. A week later, she won her second Atlantic Coast Conference title in the event and set the meet record.
With two more track events before the NCAA regional championships in Tallahassee, she already has qualified for the meet in all three throwing events -- including the shot put (15.32 meters -- 35th nationally) and hammer throw (56.27 meters -- 47th nationally).
Coach Amy Deem said Talley also is a leader off the field.
Teammate Krista Simkins said Talley hosts recruits and organizes most of the team's bowling nights and team dinners.
''Khadija has just been a great person the whole four years she's been here,'' Deem said. ``She's not into that whole rah-rah thing. But she's good at pulling our athletes aside and talking to them, fostering that motivation.''
And after her athletic career, her motivation will be geared toward a different field -- the medical one. A fan of the TV shows E.R. and CSI Miami, she has volunteered at a health clinic in her native Columbus, Ga., the past two years during breaks from school.
''I like to help people and I like kids a lot,'' she said. ``So being a pediatrician just feels like the right fit.''
But first, she'll try to pad her track and field résumé.
