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 with throws coach Andrew Dubs as he talks about his group and the potential that he sees within them
Q: With last year being your first year as the throws coach here at Virginia Tech. What are some of your takeaways from last season?
DUBS: "Overall, I thought the season went well last year. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with me coming in, installing different training methods and just a different coaching philosophy overall. The group as a whole really took to it. I thought we had a really, really good ACC Championships and I thought we had a pretty solid National Championships. I know Emma [Thor] would have liked to throw a little bit better but, there were some injuries in there. Pavla [Kuklova] was absolutely outstanding. overall, I thought the group as a whole had a pretty successful season. I'm very excited for this coming season."
Q: Last year you brought in the Nations No. 1 thrower in Tyson Jones. What have you seen from him so far this preseason that has stood out to you?
DUBS: "It's always exciting when you can bring in the No. 1 recruit in the country, but Tyson [Jones] is just special. There was an adjustment period there in the beginning with him getting more acclimated to the heavier implement, but he's really started to take to it well. Training has really picked up here in the last month in some of the thing we're doing. We're starting to get a little bit more specific in some smaller technical aspects. I'm just excited and looking forward to this season. I think he's going to have that adjustment period that all freshman have, but I think when it's all said and done, his freshman year could be something special and one to look back on."
Q: You have a combination of experienced returners and talented newcomers. What are your expectations of the group this season?
DUBS: "You're exactly right. It's definitely a combination of veteran leadership and experienced athletes with some talented newcomers. Not just Jones as a newcomer, but the transfers coming in. We have Enid Duut from the Netherlands and Isaiah Rogers, who is coming up from Atlanta, Georgia and is a transfer from TCU. Adding them in January with the returners that we have. It's going to be a very exciting year. I'm looking forward to what everybody can do. The group knows the expectations are high, not just from myself and here within this program, but I think from the outside as well. They know what they're capable. The country knows what they're capable of and with that comes great expectations."
I think Matt Reinhart had an excellent fall. He's had some small injuries which has forced us on to some different aspects of training, which I really think have been a blessing in disguise. I'm looking for a huge breakout year from him. All three of the hammer women have had a great, great fall. Definitely some things that we've made changes from last year to this year, but I think they picked it up really well. I think the three of them and myself are all more on the same page. We've had a full year together. With Jones, I've already spoken on that, but him and I have clicked from day one. I'm excited to get to work with the newcomers. I've known Rogers for quite a while so I think that will be a pretty smooth transition. Big expectations will be coming in with him and I know he's really, really looking forward to it. The same with Duut coming in January as well. Looking forward to having all of the pieces put together. I just can't wait to get started because it's going to be a lot of fun. The best part is none of them graduates this year. They all come back next year as well in 2020. The next two years at Virginia Tech is setting up to be something special in the throws group. Not just at the ACC level, but at the National level"