FEATURE STORY
him from being one of the top three to qualify for the Olympics as Clayton Murphy, Jewett and Bryce Hoppel all ran between 1:43.17 and 1:44.14 to claim the top three spots. But five years after watching the trials at home as a fresh graduate from Spain Park and three weeks after almost giving up the sport, Nixon knew he had lived a dream that he didn’t know would ever come. “It was unreal,” he said. “I’m blessed to be considered in the top eight. I decided going in, that regardless of the outcome, regardless of the time, I would give God the praise and be proud of what I accomplished. I’ve left Eugene in good spirits.” Nixon, who won three state championships in the 800-meter run at Spain Park, said that foundation and the way he was raised were what set him on the path to make it this far in the sport. “I was raised to be well-rounded, strong in my faith and value education,” Nixon said. “Those were three big things my family instilled in me, and I truly believed in being a student athlete. I wanted to be involved in the
Fraternity, Inc. Grand Board Member Daniel Nixon," stated Grand Polemarch Reuben A. Shelton III, Esq. "We could
be the biggest name, you just have to trust God and believe in yourself and anything can happen. It’s all about how bad you truly want it.” "Congratulations to Iowa State University All-American, Graduate, Great Dude and Kappa Alpha Psi
not be more proud of you!" Here's to Brother Nixon!
“
Three weeks ago, I was ready to hang it all up and be done. I had to really believe in myself to bounce back. It’s just a message to the young kids, you don’t have to be the biggest name, you just have to trust God and believe in yourself and anything can happen. It’s all about how bad you truly want it.”
—Grand Board Member Daniel I. Nixon
Supplemented by published reports
community by volunteering, I wanted to focus on school and I wanted to compete. In doing that, I realized my sophomore year at Spain Park, I could do something special with track.” Now, he’s one of the top eight runners in the country, and he feels like he’s still in his time frame to be successful in the sport. He said he eventually wants to be an athletic director, but knows he still has a window to compete highly in running and hopes he can help inspire other young athletes to believe in their dreams. “If I can do it, anyone can do it,” Nixon said. “Three weeks ago, I was ready to hang it all up and be done. I had to really believe in myself to bounce back. It’s just a message to the young kids, you don’t have to
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