Vernon Turner finds second home in high jump

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

YUKON, OKLAHOMA -- Vernon Turner is a baller.

The 6-foot- 2 junior from Yukon, Oklahoma, is known for his quick feet, tenacious defense and highlight-worthy dunks on the hardwood.

For those close to him, he's identified as a basketball player first.

But after a breakout outdoor track season that was highlighted by an eye-opening and national-leading 7 foot, 4.50 inch high jump, Turner is starting to come to grips with a second identity.

“Basketball has always been my favorite sport, but right now it doesn't matter to me,” Turner said matter-of- factly.

Turner's best clearance is not only the top mark in the country, but is the best mark by a high school athlete in the last seven years. The Olympic Trials are now in the picture for the 17-year-old.

“He's always had goals, he's going to play basketball, go to college, play in the NBA,” his mom, Melonie Turner said. “Now, he's got other options.”

Yukon High head coach Kevin Ritter, who also coaches him in basketball, remembers three years ago when he literally had to grab Turner out of the hall and convince him to come out for the track team.

“I said, 'If you do not run, we are no longer friends,'” Ritter remembers.

Turner said he leaned toward the high jump because he didn't want to run. His natural athletic ability and smoothness translated to the event. Turner said it took him a while to pick up the technical side. At the beginning of freshman year he cleared just five feet.

“I wasn't very good because I would always jump off my wrong foot,” Turner sad. “But coach Ritter came and he started working with me and I got better.”

At the end of freshman year, Turner was clearing 6-2. Last year Turner cleared 6-8.

Coming into this spring, Ritter said they had a goal to make 7 feet.

“He's kept going,” Ritter said.

The crazy part is how little Turner has actually jumped. In the last three years, he’s practiced the high jump for all of six months. He doesn't do summer or indoor track. And his form isn't near perfect either.

“The scary part is he doesn't run properly and doesn't do things (technically) the right way,” Ritter explained. “A lot of it is just him.”

Ritter said lifting and working with pole vault coach Justin Raper has been an added benefit.

Turner said he enjoys the high jump for the simple reason he gets to spend time with friends.

“It's more fun having your friends around,” Turner said.

He credits his joy and success in sports to his mom.

Melonie moved Turner and his older sister, Dajhanet Turner, from Kansas to Oklahoma after a divorce. Melonie, who works as a night-shift nurse, raised him for the last 13 years by herself with the help of her parents.

“If it wasn't for my mom, I probably wouldn't be in the position that I'm in,” Turner said. “If were being honest, I should probably be shot or dead right now.”

Melonie and Turner have a close relationship. Known for his quiet and humble demeanor,  Melonie sees the outgoing side of her son.

“He's silly,” Melonie Turner said with a laugh. “He says silly things that make me laugh all the time. He's a good kid. Not that he's innocent of anything but he's a good kid.”

Sports have become an outlet and safe haven for Turner. Melonie said she's always tried to revolve her life around her kids and their activities. She explained sports have kept Turner focused. Dajhanet is a soccer player at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

“She (my mom) enjoys it,” Turner said of track and field. “She just tells me if I ever get to a point where I don't want to do it anymore, she'll support me 100 percent. She's always got my back.”

Right now, Turner is definitely enjoying track and field. Not one who typically shows emotion when he competes, his state record 7-4.50 on May 14 at the 6A state meet brought out a surge of excitement.

“The whole crowd started clapping and he really got in tune,” Melonie Turner said. “He's so shy, I think he's more excited on the inside.”

With state track finished, Turner now has a chance to extend his track and field season for the first time ever. He's qualified for New Balance Nationals, but a team basketball camp has created a scheduling conflict. Ritter mentioned they might try and compete in the Great Southwest Classic in New Mexico the first week of June. Also a few meets in-state are a possibility.

The goal now is to prepare for the Olympic Trials. The automatic qualifying mark is 7-5.25, though he is currently ranked ninth in the U.S. and is a shoo-in to make it. Turner said he does want to simply appear at the Trials.

“I can see it happening, but I'm going to have to put in more work to jump higher,” he said.”I mean if I go, I don't want to be able to say I go, I want to be able to say I got a medal.”