BLACKSBURG – Freshman jumper Eszter Bajnok of the Virginia Tech track and field team has been tabbed the 2016 Hungarian Junior Female Athlete of the Year.
“I am so proud of Eszter for being named Junior Female Athlete of the Year in Hungary,” said technical director and jumps coach Paul Zalewski. “It is an incredible honor, and one that is well deserved. I know how hard she has worked last year and is working now. She continues to improve, and I can’t think of no one more deserving of this honor.
“She has been a real joy to coach since she arrived here in August. Our program is very lucky to have her, and we are looking forward to an amazing season and a stellar career as a Hokie and beyond.”
A native of Kethely, Hungary, Bajnok joined the Hokie roster this fall and will participate in the long and triple jump events for Tech this season. Most recently, she was honored by the Hungarian Athletic Association at the 2016 Year End Gala and Award Ceremony on Nov. 25.
Bajnok placed seventh in the long jump final at the 2016 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World U-20 Championships at Zawisza Stadium, located in Bydgoszcz, Poland. A 2015 Hungarian Junior National Champion, Bajnok holds a personal best of 6.45 meters (21 feet, 2.5 inches) in the long jump and a personal best of 13.20 meters (43 feet, 3.75 inches) in the triple jump, also a Hungarian junior record.
“It has become a tradition at home to reward the best athletes of the year,” Bajnok said. “I never imagined that I would be considered for this honor, so when I got the call from my coach at home, I was totally surprised.
“I want to say thank you to the Hungarian Athletic Association. I really appreciate that they thought of me. I hope I will prove to them that their trust was deserved with my work on the track as a Hokie and in the future.”
The Hokies will open their 2017 indoor season at home with the Virginia Tech Invitational from Jan. 13-14, held at the Rector Fieldhouse, in Blacksburg.