KUTZTOWN, PA (May 17, 2010) – Don't be surprised to see Kendel Dixon running for mayor in the near future. He is a man about town and has the extroverted personality that every successful candidate needs. Dixon flashes a million dollar smile, is always in good spirits, likes to have fun, knows everybody's name, and has the persistence needed to succeed.

In addition, Dixon is a recent graduate. He earned his degree in leisure and sport studies last Saturday. It was a special moment for Dixon, who actually hesitated for a bit on attending college until he made a deal with his mom that turned out to be the best decision he has made at least up until to this point.

“To have my degree is surreal,” Dixon said. “I never even wanted to come to college my first year. My mom just told me to at least finish the first semester and you can home if you don't like it, you can come home if you want. I came really close to making that decision a few times of going home but I am glad that I stuck it out.”

Believe it or not, there used to be a time when Dixon kept to himself. He stayed in his room and watched ESPN when he wasn't studying. Trying to imagine the affable Dixon staying to himself is like waiting for Jay-Z to release a platinum opera compact disc.

“Being at Kutztown, the first semester was hard,” Dixon said. “I really didn't know anyone here and I was stuck in the dorms. Once I got familiar with the team, they kind of embraced me as one of their own. From then it was a perfect fit for me. I started to like Kutztown and being here. It was far enough away where I could become my own man.”

As a member of the KU track and field team, Dixon has had his share of memorable moments. This season, he has served more of a mentor to the younger athletes on the team, dispensing wisdom and laughs to a talented group of athletes. Dixon also recently delivered a speech during Kutztown's annual Student-Athlete Awards Banquet.

While preparing for meets, Dixon is usually warming up, stretching and jogging with earphones in his ears listening to music and sporting his favorite head accessory: a maroon-and-gold KU cross-country hat with a little yellow fuzzy ball on the end of it. That sight along with Dixon walking around providing encouragement to his teammates, displaying leadership through his actions was witnessed for the final time Saturday afternoon on the final day of the 2010 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships at West Chester University's Farrell Stadium.

Dixon ended his career with a bang by scorching the track in earning all-PSAC honors as a member of the 4 x 400-meter relay team that placed third. Dixon along with Percell Berry (Collegeville, PA/Methacton), Kori Meshaw (Lancaster, PA/Hempfield) and Shaun Crump (Boyertown/Boyertown) ran a season best time of 3 minutes, 15.91 seconds. Dixon ran a super scintillating 47.9-second split on his leg. In addition, Dixon helped the 4 x 100-meter relay team finish sixth overall. Dixon also finished eighth in the 400-meter dash.

Dixon has made quite an impact during his career as a Golden Bear. Not heavily recruited out of high school, Dixon made the most of his opportunity in the maroon-and-gold.

“Kendel is the heart and soul of the men's program,” Kutztown head track and field coach Ray Hoffman said. “He's like a big brother to the younger guys and is always realistic and straight to the point with all members of the program.  He's someone that I will truly miss next season.”

An injured hip flexor in high school actually turned into a blessing in disguise for Dixon, who ended up having to do his own recruiting to run in college. He reached out to a couple of coaches and one of them happened to be former KU coach Brian Mondeschein, who gave the speedy Dixon a chance.

“Coming into Kutztown, I knew what I could do because I had competed against some of the guys who were already here when I was in high school,” Dixon said. “I knew I could compete at a high level. So for me, I just had to prove it to everybody else what I could do and have everyone else believe in me like I believed in myself.”

Dixon, who was born in Parkesburg, started running track in seventh grade. He is following in some fast footsteps. His father and uncle ran track when they were in high school. Dixon's uncle was a PIAA champion in the 60-meter dash. Dixon also dabbled in basketball while he attended Octorara High School. Fortunately, the PSAC championships took his mind off of the Cleveland Cavaliers losing to Boston last week. Dixon is a huge fan of the LeBron James and the Cavs.

“Running in my family was a big deal,” Dixon said. “I just kind of fell into track because I was naturally fast. I liked it a lot. Now that track is over for me, I am ready to pursue another degree in perhaps sports psychology. I am not sure if I am going to take some time off. I know I want to eventually coach on the collegiate level.”

Of course if coaching doesn't work out for the affable Dixon, there is already a career in politics waiting for him.

--KU--