From: jlbustos@loyno.edu
Subject: Former Olympic sprinter Dennis Mitchell counsels Loyola track athletes
Info:
For immediate release: October 28, 2009
Brett Simpson: (504) 258-7857
Jamie Bustos: (419) 786-0415
Former Olympic sprinter Dennis Mitchell counsels Loyola
track athletes
New Orleans, La. - Olympic Gold Medalist Dennis Mitchell
recently spent time with Loyola's sprinters as part of head
coach Andy Canegitta's effort to upgrade the Wolfpack track
program.
Mitchell, whose personal record in the 100 meters is 9.91,
has a wealth of experience in sprints, winning three Olympic
medals for the United States. His 4x100 team at Barcelona
won gold in 1992 after setting the world record at 37.40.
In addition, Mitchell brought home a bronze in the 100
meters at Barcelona as well. In the 1996 Olympics, his
4x100 team won the silver medal and in the 100 meters he
placed fourth. He also took fourth in the 100 meters at the
1988 Olympics.
Besides the Olympics, Mitchell has several other
accomplishments. In 1989, he won the NCAA championship in
the 200 meters for the University of Florida. At the World
Championships in 1991 and 1993, Mitchell won gold in the
4x100 and bronze in the 100 meters. Also in the 100 meters,
Mitchell won gold in the 1994 Goodwill Games and captured
three consecutive titles from 1992-96 in the US National
Championships.
Since retiring from competition, Mitchell has gone on to
coach several notable sprinters. Rodney Green, II, a former
recruit of Canegitta’s, won a bronze medal for the Bahamas
in the 4x100 in the 2009 CAC Championships in Cuba. In last
summer’s Olympics, Damu Cherry placed fourth for the
United States women in the 100 meters at 12.65. Also last
summer during the Olympic Trials, Jeffery Demps smashed the
United States record for a teenager in the 100 meters with a
10.01.
“Based on past performances from former athletes, Dennis
Mitchell's sprint plan has provided marked improvement in
those athletes”, said Coach Canegitta. “I am expecting
positive things for years to come from the Loyola track
program. Our next step is to recruit more sprinters for next
year and continue building the distance/cross country
program."
The Loyola track and field team will have their first meet
of the season on Jan. 22, when they head to Baton Rouge for
the Purple Tiger Invitational.
Become a fan of Wolfpack Athletics on Facebook at
http://facebook.com/loyolawolfpack.
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