BLACKSBURG – 2019 was another banner year for the Virginia Tech track and field program and there are several reasons to be just as excited for the 2020 indoor and outdoor seasons.
The Hokies earned two ACC titles, set numerous school records and return all but a handful of student-athletes.
Assistant coach Paul Zalewski, who oversees the jumps and combined events, took some time to talk about his group and the upcoming season.
The returners for the group on the men's side are Chauncey Chambers, Jayron Cheatham, Jaelyn Demory, James Holt, Donovan Louis, John Manilli and Sean Murphy.
Demory, a junior, won silver in the heptathlon at the Indoor ACC Championships and won gold in the decathlon at the Outdoor ACC Championships. Demory owns the third-most points in the indoor heptathlon in school history and broke the school record (6,982) at the outdoor championships in the decathlon.
On the women's side, the student-athletes coming back to Blacksburg are Stefanie Aeschlimann, Eszter Bajnok, Cecilia Marenick, Laurel Miller and Maya Pighet. Bajnok earned first-team All-ACC honors in the triple jump at both indoor and outdoor ACCs last season. The senior also made history by becoming the first jumper to qualify for nationals in to two events (long jump and triple jump).
The jumps and combined events group welcomes two newcomers (Rosie Cicmanec and JaneAnne Tvedt) on the women's side and two on the men's side (Keith Moore and Matt Mitchell) this upcoming year.
Q: After what they accomplished last year, what has you excited about this multi-events group?
ZALEWSKI: "We had some good success with the combined events guys last season with Jaelyn Demory coming though with an ACC title and Sean Murphy grabbing the bronze. For both of these guys, it was their first ever decathlon. I think what's most exciting this season for all those guys is that they have realized how good they can really be. Across the board I'm seeing an uptick in every event, every skill, every training session. Each guy is raising his level and is feeding off the guy next to him every day. It's really awesome to see.
Jaelyn Demory is well on his way to an absolutely incredible season. With as much success as he had last year, this is actually his first full season training as a decathlete. Up until now, it was always pole vault first and then pepper in some of the other events. Obviously, he's athletic enough to do that and get by on talent, but with the new focus this season on training the decathlon first, he's showing the kind of level he can reach and man is it high."
Q: Bajnok is coming off yet another dominant season. Is it crazy to believe that she could get even better?
ZALEWSKI: "Eszter [Bajnok] had another great season with qualifying for NCAA's in the long and triple jumps and breaking her national U-23 record in the triple. There are greater things on the horizon for her in 2020. She's training as well as she ever has, and with some of the technical improvements she is making, she is well on her way to once again being one of the best in the NCAA. She knows what she needs to do, is putting in the work, and I have never believed in her more. This season is shaping up to be her best yet."
Q: Over the summer and during fall training is where some tend to take that next step. Is there anyone during that time that has stood out to you?
ZALEWSKI: "There are parts of everyone's training that have moved to a new level over the course of the past few months. As I said, Jaelyn Demory is certainly showing himself to be a force at the ACC level, but on the national scene as well. All-American status is definitely in his wheel house this year.
Someone that has really stood out to me this fall has been Chauncey Chambers. He had an amazing freshman year, improving 2 feet from his high school PR. Last year he got the chance to travel to some really big meets and see what real triple jumping is all about. It was cool talking to him afterward; light bulbs were going off everywhere and you could see a change in his eyes. He brought that into this season and has really put it to work. He's stronger than ever, faster than ever, and jumping WAY farther than ever in training. I cannot wait to see him light it up this season."