Kerry goes it alone
Not everyone in sport gets the benefit of top class coaching but 18 year-old Kerry Dixon put that behind her to achieve an athletics scholarship in America this year.
Not everyone in sport gets the benefit of top class coaching but 18 year-old Kerry Dixon put that behind her to achieve an athletics scholarship in America this year.
An ex-Westbourne High School pupil, Dixon's natural athleticism was first spotted by her PE teachers at the age of 14.
Although developed by the Ipswich Harriers since then, Dixon has not had the benefit of specialist training in her fields of high jump and 400m.
She admitted: “I have just had to make it up as I go along most of the time. All I really do is run.”
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Despite this, Dixon continued to impress in competition, recording a 440m hurdles personal best of 66.3s and a high jump PB of 1.62m.
So impressive were these results that, during her first year of A-Levels at Northgate Sixth Form, an American scholarship agency sent her a letter saying they were impressed by her progress considering her lack of specialist training.
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After Dixon's profile was sent around various US universities, a number of offers came in, however Dixon has chosen the athletics specialist University of Missouri, St Louis to train and study.
Having flown over there in August, Dixon will now have access to a number of highly experienced coaches and facilities to train. In addition, Dixon will study a degree in Fashion Design.
