NEWS RELEASE

Iowa Wesleyan College Athletics

610 N. Main St.

Mount Pleasant, Iowa 52641                                                                                 

April 10, 2006

 

 

Turner tops quality discus field at UNI’s Messersmith Invitational

 

        CEDAR FALLS – Iowa Wesleyan College junior Floyd Turner (Maywood, IL) rose to the level of his competition and claimed the discus title at the Mark Messersmith Invitational Saturday on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa.

 

          The meet featured 15 teams from the Midwest, including NCAA Division I schools University of Iowa, Iowa State University, UNI and Drake University.

 

          Turner notched a winning throw of 173 feet, 9 inches, his best mark of the season. He led going into the finals with a toss of 166-8. Turner improved his mark in the finals to beat a pair of athletes from the University of Iowa. Iowa’s Tim Brodersen finished a close second with a throw of 173-7. Iowa’s A.J. Curtis placed third at 166-9.

 

          Turner, a two-time defending NAIA national champion in the discus, topped his previous best mark this season by more than 20 feet. He hasn’t lost in the discus event since the Midwest Classic Conference meet his freshman season. Turner holds the school record in the discus at 184-2, set at nationals last spring.

 

          “This was the toughest competition he’s been in this year. This meet was as tough as nationals last year,” said IWC throwing coach Lane Levine. “Floyd is a great competitor. He rises to the occasion.”

 

          The IWC men’s and women’s track and field teams compete in the Cornell Relays Saturday in Mount Vernon.    

 

          For more information regarding the IWC men’s track and field program or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Kerry Kahl (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; kkahl@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's web page at www.iwc.edu.