Track and Field is a borderline violent sport.
When Dixon T&F athletes compete, they are running as fast as possible - for as long as possible. If not that, they are jumping as high or long as possible, or throwing an inanimate object as far as they can manage. All of these violent movements being executed simultaneously with acute precision, accuracy, and skill as can be given... on that attempt alone. Considering all of this, a track & field athlete still chooses to pursue this endeavor - whether it be the next event, meet, or season, regardless of the experience of intense success or immense sorrow. Much preparation is put into this sport, and with the preparation comes not only the time it takes to get to the next level, but also the necessary equipment, tools, or devices.
These items cost money - more money than a non-existent budget for a rapidly growing team provides. Dixon T&F reached historic numbers of participants in the 2024 season; over 50 Duchesses and 60 Dukes represented Dixon High School throughout that season alone, and look to be even bigger in 2025! Accounting and accommodating for every athlete is a difficult endeavor - each deserves a coaches attention, but they also deserve access to the same material objects as the next person. Track & Field is not necessarily an expensive sport for an individual, but it amounts steadily for programs reaching over 1/8th of the school population.
Our equipment needs include, but are not limited to: jerseys, spikes, jump spikes, ring shoes, batons, tape, warm-up jacket, warm-up pants, F.A.T. equipment, jump mats, starting blocks, 9 sets of hurdles, multi-mini-hurdles, stopwatches, wrist watches, laser timing systems, chalk, backpacks, duffle bags, jump board, poles......
This list is on the short-end of the basic necessities needed to field a track team. While some costs are merely a few dollars, others start at $1,000 minimum.
We appreciate your time and thought to the Dixon Track & Field program. Whether you are a former Duke or Duchess, a relation to a current member, or a fan of interscholastic youth sports, we hope that we can count on your support in this generation of Dixon Athletes as its impact could be a catalyst of an everlasting, positive change in these young lives.
Go Dukes! Go Duchesses!
-- Simon Thorpe
Dixon High School (Class of 2014)
Dixon XC + T&F Head Coach
