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This is Part 1 of a multi-part series from my week in Orlando & Clermont.
Dennis Mitchell is the head coach with Star Athletics at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida. Prior to coaching, he has won numerous medals at the Olympics and World Championships in both 100 meters and the 4×100 meter relay.
His personal best is 9.91 and still holds the American record in the 4x100m relay set back in 1992.
I had the opportunity to spend the day with his hurdles and sprint groups. I’ll save those stories and videos in later posts, and to kick start this series, here is my interview with him. I asked him several questions, including:
- Athlete to Coach transition
- Long to short, or short to long approach
- How much strength/explosive/specific work outside the track?
- Training differences in Men vs. Women. His wife Damu Cherry-Mitchell is currently a Nationally ranked 100m hurdles athlete.
- On Justin Gatlin & his technique
- Advice for 4x100m coach and squad?
Here is the video on Vimeo:
Jimson Lee
Coach & Founder at SpeedEndurance.com
I am a Masters Athlete and Coach currently based in London UK. My other projects include the Bud Winter Foundation, writer for the IAAF New Studies in Athletics Journal (NSA) and a member of the Track & Field Writers of America.
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hi jimson, just writing to thank you on these interviews, they’re really great, providing a real insight into the coaching world esecially, is there any chance we could get more with the athletes?
@Ben, unfortunately I need clearance from their coaches and/or agents before I can interview athletes live. With the Olympic Trials 2 months away, I can assure you they want no distractions, and everyone is getting their “A” game up. I did speak to several of them while I was there, so I will be writing articles about that (incl hurdles and LJ training). Maybe next year! Or London?
i can fully understand that, i suppose i didn’t really think about it that much. but nonetheless thank you very much for them, and i will happily wait till next year if you can get some of those big names in :D anyway keep em coming, they’re all really good :D
BTW, JIM YOU DA MAN!!!!!!!
always find it “interesting” when athletes cant give interviews. think gatlin ,montgomery chambers , kenteris in the past , all a little slow giving interviews !!!!!!!!!!! :))
I did 2 recent interviews with Athletes, and these were “live” with no editing.
https://speedendurance.com/2012/01/31/lashawn-merritt-400m-training-race-plan-world-record/
https://speedendurance.com/2012/02/23/jeshua-anderson-training-talk-interview/