Blacksburg – After another excellent season for the Virginia Tech track and field program, the Hokies enter the 2019 season with great excitement for the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Tech begins its 2019 campaign this week, as they host the Virginia Tech Invitational on Jan. 11-12, at the newly renovated Rector Field House.
We took the time to sit down with jumps and multi-events coach Paul Zalewski as he talks about his group and what he believes he will see from them in upcoming season
Q: With the graduation of Mackenzie Muldoon. Who is next in line to step up in the multi events?
ZALEWSKI: "losing Mackenzie Muldoon last year was definitely a big hit to the program. Not just in a points standpoint at the conference meet, but from a leadership standpoint in y group of athletes. He was great with leadership, great with motivation and always someone you could count on. Filling in those shoes is going to be a pretty big deal this year. I will say that Matt Manilli has done a phenomenal job this season so far in his training, in his attitude and what he's bringing to the table. I'm really, really excited to see what's in store for him this season. He's a whole new athlete. His technique is great, he's focused, he knows what his goals are and with a year under his belt, that's going to be valuable experience for him moving forward this season."
Jaelyn Demory was a young man that stepped in just before the conference meet last year for us and really proved he was someone we could count. He's made some great technical changes, he's training really, really well and staying healthy. I'm looking forward to the two of them along with the two freshman additions to really step up and make a statement for us at the conference meet in that event."
Q: Stefanie Aeschlimann and Eszter Bajnok had great seasons last year with both winning All-ACC honors. What do you expect from them this season?
ZALEWSKI: "You couldn't ask for a better season than what Eszter [Bajnok] did last year. It really was phenomenal what she was able to accomplish. I'm really excited to see what's in store, but the best thing about her was that, despite all the success, she came back, got back down to earth, re-focused and came in as hungry as I've ever seen her to get better. We talked over the summer and the beginning of the semester here this fall about what the expectation is for the season and what we can accomplish – and there are some pretty lofty goals ahead for her this year, but nothing that she's not capable of. I think she's starting to realize who she is and really trusting what she's capable of doing. That's going to take her really, really far. I'm really excited to see what she's going to do this year. Her training has been superb this fall. She's healthy, she's motivated and most of all she's having fun. Which for her, is a huge deal. The more fun she has the better off she does. As the season gets going and we get into competition, I'm really excited to see what's going to happen with her. If she can continue to do what she's doing now, she's going to turn heads the way that she did last year.
"For Stefanie [Aeschlimann], 2018 was a decent season for her. It wasn't what she or I was expecting by the end of it. The great thing about her is that she's come back with a whole new fire. Her training is going amazing, and I'm really excited about the progress she's making. She's putting in the kind of work to get where she wants to be and we need her to be. She's a special young lady. I'm excited to see the way the season will shape up for her. She's got a year under her belt, understands the process, understands the system and now she can shine and be the young woman I know she is.
Q: Has there been anyone so far this fall that has stood out to you?
ZALEWSKI: "I've got the biggest group of freshmen that I've ever had since I've been here at Tech. There are a few that have really stood out to me. Laurel Miller I think is one that is really going to make some noise for us in the women's high jump this year. She's a transfer from the College of Charleston. She's really made some great strides, good progress in her technique and training. I'm looking forward to seeing her be a big contributor at the conference meet in the high jump. Chauncey Chambers has trained extremely well this fall. He came in as one of the top triple jumpers in Virginia over the past two years when he was in high school. It's rare for me to see someone come in with the kind of focus, determination and desire to be great. His training has gone phenomenally. He's really well focused, he's getting stronger, faster and his technique is getting better. I think he's going to make some pretty loud noise once the season gets going. Sean Murphy was do it all kind of guy for his high school team, but came in and wanted to be a decathlete and combined events athlete. He's taken it to it really well. Learning very quickly in some of the events that he doesn't have a lot of experience in, progressing well in the events he's done before. He's getting stronger, putting his time in the weight room and on the track. He's someone that I think can step in right away and be a contributor for us at the conference meet."