After an undefeated indoor track season, senior hurdler Brielle Dixon is focused on bringing home more hardware during the outdoor season.

The physical education major from Brandon, South Dakota capped off her indoor season with a Summit League record in the 60-meter hurdles, posting an impressive time of 8.16 seconds.

Now, as Dixon nears the end of her collegiate career, she is reflecting on the journey that led her to become a champion.

The path to South Dakota State University was not without its hurdles. The pandemic disrupted Brielle’s junior year of high school, cutting short her track season—a critical time for recruitment. Despite the challenges, associate head track coach Eric Hanenberger trusted his instincts when recruiting Dixon.

For the senior, the recruiting process was abnormal. She had to rely on Zoom meetings to connect with Hanenberger and the team, making the experience unique. But when it came time to make the decision, Dixon knew South Dakota State was the right choice.

“I really liked the community and the girls on the team,” Dixon said. “They completely won me over, and Eric is pretty cool.”

Becoming a collegiate athlete brought a new set of challenges. With the addition of indoor track, the season was now nearly double the length and created a heightened level of competition. The transition to year-round training required a new level of discipline and hard work for Dixon.

To handle this, recovery became a vital part of Dixon’s routine. She learned the importance of listening to her body and avoiding burnout.

“One of the biggest things that’s changed my performance is sleep,” Dixon said. “Sleeping, eating and knowing what I can and cannot do before bed—that has been huge.”

But the South Dakota native didn’t learn all of this on her own. She has had many mentors that have turned her into the athlete she is today.

“My mom, she has always pushed me to do better and has taught me all the things about eating right, sleeping right,” Dixon said. “My mom and my best friend Savannah [Risseeuw].”

Risseeuw was a hurdler on the track team with Dixon from 2021-24 and graduated last year. The pair were training partners and did everything together.

“They held each other accountable in a good way,” Hanenberger said. “If one was down, they held the other one up.”

With help from Risseeuw, Dixon’s junior year saw her qualify for the outdoor regional meet in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where she finished 36th. The experience raised her expectations going into her senior season.

This season presented a new set of challenges. On top of her training and classes, Dixon began student teaching. The added stress was significant, but she credits some of her success to the consistent schedule that student teaching provided. With a structured routine, Dixon was able to maintain a stable schedule for eating, sleeping and training.

“The community is super awesome and uplifting,” Dixon said. “The principal even announced her Summit League results over the intercom. 

In the classroom and on the track, Dixon has emerged as a leader.

“She’s not a big, in-your-face motivator, but if she has something to say, people listen,” said Hanenberger. “She’s been a big leader for the track program this year…. she is able to provide real perspective for freshmen, even sophomores.”

Dixon’s respect for her teammates is evident. 

“She really wants the whole group to do well, both guys and girls,” said Hanenberger. “Brielle’s desire to see her teammates succeed and her willingness to support everyone on the team have made her a key figure in the program.”

For Dixon, the best part about track is the team dynamic. Being one of the only coed sports, having a different dynamic and a huge team makes it even better. Even though track is often seen as an individual sport, having many teammates to lean on makes a difference.

With the outdoor portion in full swing, Dixon is eager to compete and travel to meets. The senior finds it enjoyable to spend time with teammates she doesn’t interact with daily.

“You learn a lot about a person when you travel with them for a weekend,” Dixon said.

Outdoor meets often come with larger competition, which can be stressful, but Brielle has developed strategies to handle the pressure.

A big part of Dixon’s mental preparation is self-talk, something she relies on to stay focused.

“I’m a very routine person,” Dixon said. “If I tell myself ‘you got this’ before a race, I do much better.”

Reflecting on her college career up to this point, Dixon is proud of how far she has come.

“Feeling very grateful, very blessed,” Dixon said. “Not many people get to be a college athlete…so I think I am very blessed to be able to do what I’ve done.”

She credits a lot of her success to believing in herself. Her coach has some high expectations for her as well.

“Hopefully put her name on some more record boards before she leaves,” says Eric. “Really leave a legacy, it is going to be tough to follow.”

Dixon and the Jackrabbits will compete at the USD Challenge this weekend with events starting at the Lillibridge Track Complex in Vermillion, South Dakota on Saturday.