Sweet three-peat: Turner claims another national championship in discus

FRESNO, Calif – Iowa Wesleyan College junior Floyd Turner (Maywood, IL) joined an elite group in claiming his third consecutive national title in the discus – and left no doubt about it – Saturday afternoon at the NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track and Field National Championships at Fresno Pacific University Track.

Turner launched a winning throw of 182 feet, five inches o­n his fourth attempt of the competition. It was his best toss of the 2006 season and just a shade shy of his school-record mark of 184-2, which he set at the national championships last season. Turner owned the top three throws in Saturday’s competition, all traveling over 171 feet.

Turner is the third male athlete to win three national titles in the discus since the NAIA National Championships began in 1952. Christian Okoye (1983-86) and Ade Olukoju (1987-1990), both of Azusa Pacific University, won four consecutive titles in the event during their careers.

Turner has a chance to become a rare four-time national champion next spring.

“Floyd did real well,” said first-year IWC head coach Thomas Kearney. “He met his goal of 180 feet. He had an excellent week of practices, throwing in the upper 180s. (Throwing) coach Lane Levine did a great job of getting him ready for the meet.”

Turner now has captured three of the six national track and field championships in school history. The Tiger women’s team claimed three national titles in 1998 – Nicole Duncan (100-meter dash), Louise Ayetotche (200-meter dash) and the 4x400-meter relay (Neisha Thompson, Nicola Thompson, Nadia Cunningham and Ayetotche).

Turner entered the meet as the top seed in the 25-man field and ran away with another convincing victory. Dickinson State senior Ross Walker finished a distant second with a mark of 167-7, nearly 15 feet behind Turner. Missouri Baptist’s Steve Hammons (165-11), Concordia’s Brock Simonsen (165-9) and Concordia’s Paul Castaneda (164-4) rounded out the top five placewinners.

Turner concluded his stellar season undefeated in the discus against NAIA athletes.          

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.