Bronxville is a very small, very affluent community in southern Westchester County, nestled between Mt. Vernon, Yonkers, and New Rochelle, all very urban areas. The town consists of a cummuter train station, a movie theatre, numerous restraurants and coffee shops, and some of the most beautiful homes in the country.
The town is one square mile and the high school boasts a graduating class of less than 120 right now, though through most of the 1980's and 1990's it was often closer to 75. Bronxville is also home to one of the best track and field programs in the country.
The Broncos school record book is littered with New York State stars, names like Deidre Fleming (59.8 400m hurdles in 1987), Michelle Rorke (9:49 3K in 2002), Catha and Caroline Mullen (Catha 4:27 1500m and 2:10 800m in 2002), and Liz Bergold (2:10 800m in 2003). Bronxville has won seven New York State titles in cross country and even set the national record in the 4xmile relay. But what they are most famous for is making 4x800 meter relays.
The man behind that success is coach Jim Mitchell, who came to the school in 1978 to teach latin, which he still does. Since 1979, over thirty-one seasons, Bronxvlle has averaged 9:24.14 as their season best time. In the last decade, from 2000-2009 the Broncos averaged 9:09 and broke the magical nine minute barrier twice. Impressive for any program, no doubt. But for a small school? Almost unheard of.
People ask him how he does it every year. People look him for that secret workout, that magic pep talk, or that easy short cut. He has none. He just does what's he's always done.
Coach Mitchell doesn't believe in a lot of miles. He tells his girls that they'll be done with practice in under and hour every day. He doesn't believe in "junk mileage" either. If his girls are running, there is almost always at least some quality running mixed in. What he does believe is that every single girl that comes o.jpg)
ut for the team is an 800 meter runner until she proves otherwise.
When you watch coach Mitchell with his team, you hear him speak about proper running form, good arm carriage, and staying relaxed. When you hear him cheer for his squads you hear a man that is always professional and always encouraging. Even his screams during big races come accross as encouraging, almost soothing. It's a pleasant change from so many other coaches who's mid-race screams sound as if they are mad at their runners.
So in a year he graduated three members of his 4x800m relay it will be intersting to see how the Broncos do next year. With Henrietta Miers returning, a 2:12 relay runner, and yougsters Mary Cain and Amelia Phillips a year stronger, if there is one thing you can count on, it's that the Bronxville 4x800 will once again be one the best in the country.
"How They Train" - Caitlin Hudson
"Bronxville 4x800's Through the Year's"
1979 - 09:29.80
1980 - 09:22.30
1981 - 09:15.10
1982 - 09:17.00
1983 - 09:22.13
1984 - 09:06.97
1985 - 09:41.90
1986 - 09:22.70
1987 - 09:14.60
1988 - 09:14.10
1989 - 09:26.80
1990 - 09:26.60
1991 - 09:49.10 (3:55.9 – 4x400; 4:04.5 – SM)
1992 - 09:50.50 (3:53.27 – 4x400)
1993 - 09:50.10 (3:56.9 – 4x400)
1994 - 09:49.60
1995 - 09:44.60
1996 - 09:14.87
1997 - 09:30.31
1998 - 09:47.80
1999 - 09:35.76
2000 - 09:26.50
2001 - 09:15.52
2002 - 08:57.40
2003 - 08:53.30
2004 - 09:19.20
2005 - 09:11.34
2006 - 09:03.30
2007 - 09:13.30
2008 - 09:12.20
2009 - 09:06.20
9:23.7 average for 31 years