Athlete of the Week: Shanae Dixon

Shanae Dixon leads by example with her driven, focused, hardworking and kind personality. To top it off, she’s a star track athlete, wowing everyone around her with not only her good-natured demeanor, but also her insane speed on the track.“Shanae is an all around good person, whenever I need anything I can go to her,” upper Jordan Bolden said. “But she's not the type to just give me the answer. She will definitely make you work to get what you want, and she does that for herself, too. It applies to everything she does. Whether it's Precision, track, or school, she will completely give her all and that's one of the things I admire most about her.”Track coach Toyin Augustus-Ikwuakor agreed. “I’ve known Shanae since I got here two years ago, and as an athlete she is very hard working and very determined. She is definitely someone who is willing to do what she needs to do off of the track in order to be better on the track. I can trust her to do those extra things and to get in the weight room, and really put in the work,” she said.Toyin also added how the importance of Dixon’s determination and hard work relates to her success on the track, “[Putting in extra work] is really necessary as a 400-meter runner because it’s not the easiest event—it’s a very challenging event—and she is willing to put in the work, and that says a lot about her character.”Dixon is an ardent runner and a passionate member of the track team. “I wish people would take indoor and outdoor track more seriously, people sometimes tell me ‘you just run around in circles,’ but track to me is like lacrosse and soccer is to any person who plays those sports,” she said. “We are a family, even if there are 100 plus kids on the team, we still count on each other to get through the workouts and to do our best.”Members of the track team recognize Dixon’s sense of teamwork and her commitment to the team performing its best, “She does a great job of helping motivate the team especially during difficult workouts,” upper and fellow track runner Mason Polk said. “She is also always the one to ask if anybody wants to lift with her. You can tell she's trying to improve herself and others.”Dixon’s hard work has payed off in her achievements in track. “My proudest moment was last year at interschools. I was on a four by four team with girls that were way faster than me—I was the only person not sub-60 [seconds]. I was nervous because we wanted to beat the school record and win first at interschools. When I was running the last 75 meters of my 400, I saw I was running way faster than I had ever before during a 400, and I was so proud because I realized I had stepped up to the plate. And after the competition, the whole team jumped together because we all had run our fastest times.”Again and again, her teammates emphasized her superb work ethic. “She's hard-working, perseverant, she brings up the team spirit, and she never complains or gives others burdens, she's very uplifting,” upper Marcus Polk said.Coach Toyin provided an account of Dixon’s dedication and the example she sets for newer runners. “We were on a hill earlier on in the season, and the athletes had to decide whether they were long or short sprinters, and she originally chose to be with the short sprinters who had an easier workout. But when it was pointed out that 400 was a longer sprint, she immediately corrected herself and changed to the harder workout. I think this shows she is willing to change whatever needs to be changed in order to be better and to do the right thing, and that was a great example for the other runners.”Senior Asile Patin said Dixon is making the most out of her experience on the track team. “As far as track is concerned, she has the perfect balance between having a good time and being focused. The beauty of the track team this year is that it's a much smaller, tight knit group, so we're able to make closer connections -- Shanae has taken full advantage of that.”“She's just awesome to be around. People should definitely get to know her better, because she's there to support you regardless of the situation you're in,” Patin added.Marcus Polk also noted Dixon’s effect on newer runners as well as the team as a whole. “Shanae brings a lot of positivity to the track team,” he said. “She's never complaining about work outs and is always trying to make track a welcoming and enjoyable environment for others. She's also very helpful to the younger kids and helps correct form.”Although she promotes a positive and a welcoming environment, she wishes to provide more opportunities to aspiring runners while keeping a positive attitude. “I wish we had a new cage for indoor, so we wouldn’t have to cut many kids. I hope that in future years, track can keep up the energy that the captains have been giving this year. Simple things like clapping hands in warm-up lines, bring up energy, excite people to keep going and want to run even if they get sore.”When asked, Dixon stated her expectations and goals for the track team in the future. “I hope that in future years, track can keep up the energy that the captains have been creating this year.”As for the future, Dixon hopes to become either a sports lawyer, or an international lawyer, citing her strong interests in both the Law and sports.“I have two career plans, they both involve law but one is sports law. I’ve also been interested in football, played it lower year. I wanted to be a lawyer for a sports team, I could satisfy my interest in law and sports. Go into international law. Taking chinese, interested in working abroad in China. As far as athletics, track in college. Pick up rugby in the fall.