At 35 years old and a Jonesboro City Council member, Clayton State University’s Alfred Dixon is not a typical student-athlete, to say the least.
A 2005 Mundy’s Mill High graduate, Dixon struggled during his first stint in college and was ineligible for athletics. Years later, he went back to school, made the dean’s list, and regained his athletic eligibility at 35.
He not only was able to get back on track academically but recently helped the CSU men’s track and field team to a third-place finish in the Peach Belt Conference Championship.
During the conference meet, Dixon placed third in the high jump.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” he said of competing in college athletics in his 30s. “In the past few years, I told myself I wanted to get back in the gym and stay as active as possible. Being a part of the track team is a sure way to hold myself accountable to staying fit.”
While he’s the oldest athlete on the team, he said the “team camaraderie is great.”
“Everyone on the team was no more than 5 years old when I first came to Clayton State,” he said. “I recognize the opportunity to be an example for my younger teammates and to any member of our community that hasn’t graduated from college yet. I know what it feels like to be ineligible to play athletics due to academics, and I can share my experiences.”
What does he think of how the team did in the PBC Championship?
“We made history — best finish in school history, placing top three as a team in the Peach Belt Conference,” he said. “An amazing accomplishment and team effort. We had a lot of breakout performances from our (4×400-meter relay) teams, (4×100) teams, many individual personal bests, and a great showing of team spirit with Clayton State fans filling the stands.”
In 2016, Dixon was elected to his first term on the Jonesboro City Council to…
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