The sky's the limit for Southern Wayne's Dixon

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on June 2, 2005 1:51 PM

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DUDLEY -- Understandably, the N.C. High School Athletic Association allows track and field athletes to compete in only four events per meet.

One gets the feeling that if she could participate in more, Southern Wayne junior Christy Dixon would be running anchor legs on a couple of relay teams.

"Hey, we wish we could get her in some of those relay teams," Saints' coach Sally Combs said.

Still, her 2005 worksheet in four events was more than impressive to Combs -- a first year coach in women's track and basketball.

Dixon was a Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference champion in both the long jump and 200 meters, while taking second place in the 100 and triple jump. These accomplishments helped her bring home the conference player of the year.

She wasn't finished.

After what she considers a disappointing performance at the Eastern Regional at Nash Central, Dixon bounced back at the NCHSAA Championships. Under mild conditions at North Carolina A&T University's plush track facility, Dixon jumped 17 feet, six inches in the long jump -- good for second place overall.

"The track and the pit were perfect," said Dixon, Southern Wayne's women's only competitor that day.

Jamestown Ragsdale's Kiara Crutchfield's jump of 17-8 bested the Saints standout.

For these accomplishments, Dixon is the 2005 News-Argus women's track and field athlete of the year.

She took the silver-medal pedestal with a sense of pride -- enjoying a moment she ranks as one of the best of her young life. But, like any good athlete, Dixon is hoping this season will lead to an even better ending in 2006.

"I really wanted first, but I will take second, so I can work my way up to winning it all next year," Dixon said. "I was hoping for a better jump in the triple jump, but it will prepare me for next year to do better in that, too."

Combs got her first glimpse of her natural athletic ability during women's basketball season. Dixon steadily improved and eventually landed a spot in the Saints' regular rotation.

While she won her fair share of events early in the season and consistently outraced and outjumped her conference competition, the junior continued to work on her form.

"Coach (Bob) Warren's father, George, spent a lot of time with Christy on her technique and footwork," Combs said. "In the jumping events, we had to get her to jump 'up' instead of 'at.' Once she got that down and the correct pacing, that really set her into motion.

"You've got to repeat the same motion. It's like shooting a free throw."

Currently, she is interested in finding a summer track program. She's been playing basketball since her days at Brogden Middle School, and plans on playing basketball again for Combs in the winter.

"Yes! Thank goodness," Combs laughed.

Still, she feels her prowess in track may be a possible ticket to receiving a college scholarship.

"I need to work on getting out of the blocks, especially in the 100," she said. "Track is the thing that I'm really good at. I just need to work on it and do better next time."

2005 may be tough to top, but Dixon seems more than up to the challenge.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Finalists for the female track of the year were as follows: Amy Fryt (C.B. Aycock), Miriam Glenn (W. Country Day), Sa'Coya Cox (Rosewood), Alexandra Randall (E. Wayne) and Olivia Neal (Rosewood).