Above: Dixon Alderman from Hernando High School Finishing at the Saltillo Invitational
Photo by Harrison Wampler
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For any new readers, welcome to Mississippi Future Stars. In this series, we feature young runners who are making waves in Mississippi running. Whether they are breaking records or climbing the rankings, this series is the place where we get to showcase what our younger athletes have been doing and put them on the map!
In this edition of Mississippi Future Stars, we have Dixon Alderman from Hernando High School. He is one of the top seventh-grade runners in the state and is pushing the pace this year.
More Future Stars Rankings
Middle School Girls Two-Mile Rankings | Middle School Boys Two-Mile Rankings
Dixon Alderman opened up his season at the South Panola XC Opener, where he placed 12th overall. He ran a time of 20:56 to mark his first 5000m race in the books.
At his next race, he was already breaking barriers. At the TCPS Twilight, he ran 19:30, going below twenty minutes for the first time and placing 32nd overall. This drop of over a minute from his previous race was an improvement, but Dixon was only getting started.
At the Fleet Feet Tupelo Invitational, Dixon made another huge jump with his third personal best in a row. He ran a time of 18:40, breaking yet another barrier and going below 19 minutes. At this race, he placed 56th overall.
After that monumental performance in Tupelo, Dixon ran a 19:08 at the Mustang Stampede Invitational and earned another low 19-minute performance. Just a week later, he was back onto his incredible streak of fast performances.
At the Saltillo Cross Country Invitational, Dixon finished 50th overall with another personal best of 18:25. For those keeping count, in the span of five races, he dropped two and a half minutes. That performance also marks him as the fastest 7th grader in the state for the 5000m distance by almost twenty seconds. For all middle schoolers in the state, he would rank within the top ten in Mississippi.
Dixon also competed at the Jesse Owens Classic over the weekend and performed well with a time of 19:13. Although it was not another personal best, it is a testament to how consistent this young man is.
Taking a look at the national rankings, Dixon is currently ranked as the 19th best 7th grader in the country for the 5000m distance.
This young athlete is making incredible strides this season, and there is still plenty of racing left this season. If he continues to improve and compete at this level, he will be one of the best Mississippi athletes in the state within a few short years.