Mike Guinn was a fixture on championship teams during his four-years as a member of the Bridgewater College track and field squad.
A key performer is the sprints, Guinn never missed a race during his career. Guinn was a member of Little Eight Championship teams in 1967 and 1968 and a runner-up team in 1966. Twice, the Eagles finished third in a strong Mason-Dixon Conference.
Guinn was Little Eight individual champion in the 100-yard dash in 1967 and the 200-yard dash in 1968. He ran in the 4x100 relay 23 times in his four years and his team was victorious 18 times. The 4x100 team won Little Eight titles in 1967 and 1968. The 1968 team also won the Mason-Dixon title, setting a school and conference record that stood for 30 years. The school record stood for 30 years.
Upon graduation, Guinn ranked among the Top Five in program history in the 100-yard dash and held the second-fastest time in the 200-yard dash. His best time in the 440-yard dash ranked among the Top 10 fastest times.
Guinn also lettered as a member of the 1964 Bridgewater College football team.
Following graduation, Guinn embarked on a long and successful coaching career, at times coaching football, basketball, cross country, and track.
Guinn coached at Montevideo High School with Bridgewater College Hall of Famer Don Glick for six years and the school won three state titles while he was there.
Guinn left his mark at Spotswood High School where he coached track and field and cross country for 31 years. His boys’ cross country team won three district titles and one regional crown. The 1994 team finished second in the state. The girls’ cross country team also won three district titles and finished second in the region twice. The girls finished second in the state in 1994 and 1996 and won the state championship in 1995. His boys’ track team at Spotswood won one state title and finished second three times. The girls track team had one second-place finish at the state level.
Guinn excelled at coaching relay events. He coached five state championship relay teams in girls’ competition and three on the boys’ side.
At retirement, Guinn ranked No. 11 on the Virginia Coaches Association lifetime win list in boys’ track and No. 6 on the girls’ win list.
Following his retirement from Spotswood, Guinn was head coach at Eastern Mennonite School and the assistant coach for sprinters at Harrisonburg High.
Guinn remains active as a competitor on the senior running circuit, He won the 50 meters at the 2014 Maryland Senior Games and advanced to finish 12th in the event at the National Senior Games in Minneapolis.
In recognition of his outstanding career as a student-athlete and a stellar high school coaching career, Mike Guinn is worthy of induction into the Bridgewater College Athletic Hall of Fame.
