Oklahoma Freshman Vernon Turner Transferring To Arkansas


Update: The University of Arkansas has released its signees for the Class of 2022 athletes and another signee, Vernon Turner, a transfer from Oklahoma who has three years and six seasons of indoor and outdoor track eligibility left. 

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Vernon Turner arrived on the University of Oklahoma's Norman campus last fall as one of the Sooner's prized track and field recruits and a potential Olympic qualifier by 2020. 

But after one season with the Sooners, Turner, who finished sixth in the high jump at the NCAA Championships in June and cleared a career best of 2.33 meters (7-7.75) over the indoor season, has decided to transfer. 

Turner confirmed on Twitter that he has not received his release just yet, which means he hasn't begun to look into where his next destination might be. 

His move from Norman is a major shakeup on the NCAA Division I track and field landscape.

Everything considered, the Yukon (OK) High School graduate had a very successful freshman season in 2018, finishing both his indoor and outdoor seasons with the second best performances in the NCAA. 

He's coming off a spring season where he cleared 2.28 meters (7-5.75) twice, won a Big 12 and Penn Relays championship and finished sixth at the NCAA Championships. 

At the same time, Turner wasn't overly consistent, once failing to clear 7-feet at the Crimson Tide Invitational in April and finishing third at the Texas Relays in March. He was ninth at the NCAA Division I West Prelims. 

While his indoor season represented the highest Turner has ever cleared, including his career best 2.33 (7-7.75) meter mark from the Tyson Invitational, Turner wasn't able to capture a championship in the following weeks. He finished second at Big 12s and was fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships 

A year ago, Turner finished his prep career with the second highest clearance of all-time, producing a 2.29 meter (7-6) mark. He cleared at least 2.23 three other times over his senior season.