Jamaican Olympian and renowned coach Inez Turner, head of Fayetteville State University’s track and field and cross-country programs, will be among the inductees enshrined in the 2025 John B. McLendon CIAA Hall of Fame on February 28, 2025. The prestigious ceremony, hosted by the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), will take place at 9:00 a.m. EST in the Baltimore Convention Centre Ballroom as part of the week-long CIAA Basketball Tournament festivities in Baltimore, Maryland.

Turner, a former Olympian and now a coaching giant, has carved out an extraordinary career since transitioning from an elite athlete to a mentor and leader in collegiate athletics. Since joining Fayetteville State University (FSU), Turner has led the Broncos to 15 CIAA championships across men’s and women’s cross-country, as well as indoor and outdoor track and field. Her remarkable leadership saw the women’s cross-country team secure seven consecutive championships since 2017, while the men’s team achieved back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.

A testament to her unparalleled coaching abilities, Turner has earned the CIAA Coach of the Year award for each of her 24 championship victories. Under her guidance, FSU has produced 35 CIAA event champions, 14 NCAA All-Americans, and multiple Athletes of the Year. Turner’s leadership extends beyond Fayetteville State; her influence in track and field is global. In 2023, she played a pivotal role in leading Jamaica’s U18 and U23 athletes to a medal haul of 32 NACAC Championship medals in Costa Rica.

Before joining Fayetteville State, Turner laid a foundation of success at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), where her leadership propelled the program to numerous championships. Across her distinguished collegiate coaching career, Turner has coached over 28 All-Americans and solidified her reputation as one of the most influential figures in CIAA athletics.

Turner’s roots as a standout athlete continue to inspire. A star for Jamaica, she represented her country at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games and previously enjoyed an outstanding collegiate career at Barton Community College, where she earned 16 National Junior College All-America honours. Her 800m NJCAA championship record from 1993 remains unbroken.

Turner joins a distinguished 2025 CIAA Hall of Fame class, which includes Bowie State’s Arlene Creek, Shaw’s Kiarsha Curtis, Virginia Union’s Sherman Lea, Virginia State’s Samantha Mackey Edwards, Winston-Salem State’s Sharon Tanner, and North Carolina Central’s Kyle Serba.

The 2025 induction underscores Turner’s legacy as both an athlete and coach, celebrating her relentless pursuit of excellence and dedication to nurturing future generations of track and field athletes. Her enshrinement into the John B. McLendon CIAA Hall of Fame marks a well-deserved recognition of a career defined by passion, achievement, and impact on and off the track.

The ceremony will be part of the 2025 CIAA Basketball Tournament, held on February 25 to March 1 in Baltimore.