Fayetteville State's revered Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach, Inez Turner, is set to embrace additional responsibilities within the Broncos' Department of Athletics. A 21-time Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Coach of the Year, Turner is now appointed as the women's sports administrator overseeing the Broncos' seven female programs.
In this new role, Turner will provide vital oversight, acting as a liaison between the programs and the Director of Athletics. Her responsibilities extend to offering championship-caliber guidance to foster excellence across the board.
"Inez Turner has done a tremendous job with her programs since the day I hired her," stated Director of Athletics Anthony Bennett. "It only makes sense to put her in a position where she can mentor our coaches and provide resources so all programs will be championship contenders and one day national contenders."
Turner's role will encompass motivational advising, scheduling, academic monitoring, professional development, and the cultivation of a winning atmosphere for each women's program.
Expressing gratitude for the recognition of her value, Coach Turner remarked, "I am grateful that Fayetteville State and the athletics director, Mr. Bennett, recognize my value and provide me with additional opportunities to become a better version of myself. This role will undoubtedly allow me to invest everything I have towards the advancement of our young lives, coaches, and all our programs."
Since joining Fayetteville State in 2017, Turner has led the Broncos to an unprecedented 13 CIAA Championship titles, marking the most in FSU's athletic history by a single coach. Notable achievements include six consecutive crowns for the women's cross-country program, back-to-back titles for the men, and recent successes for the women's indoor and outdoor programs.
Reflecting on her winning record, Turner shared, "Being a winner brings me enormous joy. I become enthusiastic when striving to be the greatest, and I am ready to multiply the blessings. Being a successful force in the sporting world is an adventure that can help guide and lead others to greater heights."
In a coaching career spanning since 2004, Turner has left an indelible mark, with previous coaching roles at the New York Track Club and North Carolina A&T State University. Before her tenure at FSU, she served as the head coach at Winston-Salem State University for eight years, securing nine conference titles.
Turner, a 1998 graduate of Texas State University, represented her native Jamaica in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA. Her impressive athletic career includes medals from the '94 Commonwealth Games, the '97 World Championships, and the Caribbean Free Trade Association Games. Turner has been honored as a five-time Penn Relays Wall of Famer, a National Junior College Hall of Famer, and a Hall of Famer at Texas State.
With her new role as women's sports administrator, Inez Turner is poised to extend her influence and dedication to further elevate the success of Fayetteville State's female sports programs.
Ackera Nugent and Stacey-Ann Williams dominate with victories at Zagreb meet
Jamaica’s Ackera Nugent and Stacey-Ann Williams continued their impressive seasons with dominant performances at the Boris Hanžeković Memorial in Zagreb, Croatia, on Sunday. The meet, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold since 2020, featured several standout performances from Caribbean athletes, with Nugent and Williams leading the way.
Nugent, the world leader in the 100m hurdles with her blistering 12.24 set at the Rome Diamond League, once again demonstrated her class, claiming victory in 12.55. Facing a quality field that included former world record holder Kendra Harrison and Olympic silver medalist Cyrena Samba-Mayela, Nugent ran a composed race to comfortably secure first place. Great Britain's Cindy Sember finished second in 12.67, with Harrison third in 12.76. 2022 World Championship silver medalist Britany Anderson of Jamaica finished sixth in 12.91.
In the women’s 400m, Stacey-Ann Williams ran the race of her life, clocking a lifetime best and meet record of 50.00 seconds to win the event. Williams faced strong competition but managed to hold off Norway’s Henriette Jaeger, who ran 50.22, and the USA’s Shamier Little, who finished third in 50.58. Barbados' Sada Williams, showing signs of fatigue after a long season, finished fourth in 51.23.
The Jamaican victories were part of a broader Caribbean presence on the podium in Zagreb. Shashalee Forbes finished second in the women’s 100m, clocking 11.23 behind Gambia’s Gina Bass Bittaye, who won in 11.13. The USA’s Jenna Prandini rounded out the top three with a time of 11.30.
In the 800m, Jamaica’s Natoya Goule ran a strong race to finish second with a time of 1:57.43, just behind Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir, who set a meet record of 1:57.00. Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew finished third in a personal best of 1:57.47.
Meanwhile, in the men’s 110m hurdles, Tokyo Olympic champion Hansle Parchment secured third place in 13.25. Japan’s Rachid Muratake claimed victory in 13.14, holding off American Daniel Roberts, who finished second in 13.18.
Shiann Salmon returns to her roots to rediscover her best with stunning win in Zurich
Jamaica’s Shiann Salmon has rediscovered her best form after returning to train at home, and it’s paying off in spectacular fashion. Salmon, who has been a consistent force in the 400m hurdles this season, clocked a lifetime best of 52.97 seconds to win her first-ever Diamond League race in Zurich last Friday. This remarkable achievement not only secured her spot among the elite but also marked a significant personal milestone, as she became just the fifth Jamaican woman in history to break the 53-second barrier in the event.
After graduating from Hydel High and spending a year at GC Foster College, Salmon ventured overseas to train with Tonja Buford, a US Olympic medalist turned coach. However, after a few seasons in the United States, Salmon felt the American environment was making her "soft" and unmotivated, which led to her bold decision last season to return to Jamaica to train under renowned coach Maurice Wilson at the Sprintec Track Club.
“I don’t feel as if I ever needed to ‘justify’ doing something that I felt was for my best interest. However, I felt like the American lifestyle/system was never meant for me. I think I got a bit complacent and soft, so I returned to my roots,” Salmon explained.
That decision has clearly paid off. Salmon has shown remarkable consistency this season, first setting a lifetime best of 53.13 in the Olympic final in Paris and consistently racing close to that mark in the lead-up to Zurich. But in Zurich, she finally broke through the elusive 53-second barrier, achieving her goal for the season.
“I was thrilled. My overall aim for the remainder of the season was to break the 53 seconds barrier, so I was beyond happy when I realized that I had done so,” Salmon said. “I’m currently the fifth Jamaican woman to do so. I feel exhilarated, top 5 all-time is a big accomplishment and I’m grateful.”
Reflecting on her performances before Zurich, Salmon felt her breakthrough was imminent. “Yes, I definitely felt it coming. My body is now used to running low 53s. My coach and I already predicted it, it was just a matter of me executing the races properly,” she shared.
Only four other Jamaican women—Deon Hemmings, Melaine Walker, Kaliese Spencer, and Rushell Clayton—have ever broken the 53-second mark in the 400m hurdles. Now, Salmon joins that exclusive club, cementing her status as one of the best in the world.
Looking ahead, Salmon is focused on finishing her season on a high. She will contest the Diamond League final in Brussels, with her sights set on another sub-53 performance. “My ultimate aim is to finish the season with another 52 performance. Anything else that comes with that is a bonus,” Salmon concluded.
With her decision to return to Jamaica proving to be the right move, Salmon’s resurgence has her poised to continue breaking barriers and reaching new heights in the 400m hurdles.
Olympic medallist Rajindra Campbell breaks own Jamaican shot-put record in Zagreb
Jamaican shot putter Rajindra Campbell made more history at the Ivan Ivancic Memorial in Zagreb on Saturday.
The 28-year-old, who became the first Jamaican to medal in a throws event at the Olympic Games with his bronze medal in Paris, established a new national record of 22.31m to finish third at Saturday’s meet behind American Olympic and World champion and world record holder Ryan Crouser who threw a meet record 22.93m to win and Payton Otterdahl who threw 22.46m in second.
Campbell opened his competition with 21.05m before going down to 20.61m in the second round.
He then signaled his intent for a big throw with 21.56m in round three before unleashing his national record-breaking throw in round four.
He fouled his next two attempts which didn’t matter as no one else was able to eclipse his mark.
Campbell broke his own previous national record 22.22m done in Madrid last year.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
