Kentucky State University

Vernell Turner is a city of New York native who came to KSU nearly 59 years ago on a track and field scholarship in 1964.  He was recruited and coached by world renown, Dr. William Exum.
 
Vernell was a versatile track and field star for Kentucky State University during his four-year career.  He ran middle distance and sprints from the 220 to the 880 yards.  During his time at KSU he helped make the track team one of the top programs in the nation.
 
From his sophomore to his senior year, Vernell earned six track & field athletic letters.  Three each for the indoor and outdoor track seasons.  During his junior and senior year, KSU had one of the top relay teams in the United States.  In 1966 he was a member of KSU’s One Mile Relay and Sprint Medley Relay teams that’s were ranked 7^th and 8^th, respectively, by U.S. Track & Field News.
 
Vernell earned All-American honor as a member of the 4^th place team in the one-mile relay at the NCAA Division II National Championship, where he ran the second leg, in 1966.  During that year, he was one of nine KSU team members who earned All-American honors.  He also was a member of the mile relay and sprint medley relay championship teams at the Midwestern Athletic Conference in 1966 and 1967.
 
Participating at the world’s greatest relay event, The Penn Relays in Philadelphia, PA.  Vernell was a member of the three-time One Mile Relay championship team from 1965-67.  He also was a member on three school record relay teams, the one-mile relay (3:08.90 at the Central Collegiate Conference), the sprint medley relay (3:21.10) and the 880-yard relay (1:24.30 at the Qunatico Virginia Relay).
 
Vernell retired from the New York City Board of Education.  He has been coaching track and field for over 37 years. He is married to Gloria, who is also a graduate from KSU.