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 Tim Vaught, who oversees the sprints, hurdles and relays, took some time to talk about his group and the upcoming season.
The returners for the group on the men's side are Cole Beck, Michael Davenport, Hans Gallagher, Miles Green, Jacory Patterson and Joseph Tay.
Patterson, a sophomore, highlights the men's team as he returns after sweping the indoor and outdoor 400-meter dash at the ACC Championships and winning the silver medal in the 200 at ACC outdoors. Green, a fellow sophomore, was also big contributor last year as he won the 400-meter hurdles at the ACC outdoor champions and earned second-team All-America honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
On the women's side, the student-athletes coming back to Blacksburg are Kanajzae Brown, Arlicia Bush, Kayla Copeland, Kennedy Dennis, Imagine Patterson, Nykah Smith and Caitlan Tate. Bush returns for her final campaign after earning league honors in the indoor and outdoor 400-meter dash.
The sprints, hurdles and relays group welcomes two newcomers (Naudia Still and Ariana Rivera) on the women's side and five on the men's side (Patrick Atwell, Patrick Forrest, Bilal Nazari, Sam Quesenberry and Tyreke Sapp) this upcoming year.
Q: Last year Miles Green and Jacory Patterson announced themselves to the world. What has it been like to coach and be around them?
VAUGHT: "Miles and Jacory made a huge impact in our program and in the ACC last season. Those two guys, I have to say they are two of the hardest working guys on the team. Recruiting those types of guys to come to this program – I knew they could change the face of the program, especially in my area, the sprints/hurdles area. The hard work that they put last fall, the hard work that they put in this fall. It's really showing that everything that I thought recruiting these guys is actually happening.
For both of those guys to come in and make an impact like they did. With Jacory's first collegiate meet, breaking the collegiate world record in the 300 was amazing, and then later winning the ACCs in the 400 indoor and outdoor was amazing as well. Miles coming in as a freshman, coming in to the indoor [ACC] Championships ranked 14th, making it to the finals and getting fourth place. To be able to score points and help the men's team win an ACC Championship was huge. Outdoors, for him to come out of high school, and the first year at this level to win the ACCs in the 400 hurdles to me was amazing. As two freshmen, they knew what they wanted and they worked hard to get it."
Q: It's another year filled with talented newcomers. Has anyone stood out to you?
VAUGHT: "This group that I have right here. It's a group of talented athletes. We have two transfers in Tyreke Sapp and Patrick Forrest that transferred from different colleges, but are very talented athletes. They wanted to be a part of a program that was a wining program. They are both going to make impacts this year as well. They're working hard. Chemistry right now among the guys is unbelievable.
We have one freshman coming in [on the men's team] and that's Patrick Atwell, the [Virginia] State Champion in the 500 indoors and 40 outdoors this previous season. I think he has huge upside in his development as well. With the three of those guys, I think the program is going to continue to do what we have done in the past. Continue to win conference championships and hopefully either this year or next year make a run for a national championship. That's the ultimate goal."
Q: The women's team was struck by injuries last year. How do you believe this group will bounce back?
VAUGHT: "With the women's program, we took some blows last year. We lost Caitlan Tate early in the indoor season and then outdoor we lost Kennedy [Dennis], which took a toll. The numbers in my area were not as great as I wanted it to be. When we lose those two top sprinters from my group, it's going to take a toll in my area on relays and individual events.
This year right now with the women's team, their chemistry at practice is just like men's. They're doing everything that I'm asking them to do. I do believe this year the women are going to make strides and really make a big impact at the ACC Championships.
We have some young talent that came in as well. Ariana Rivera, I think she's going to make an impact this year. Overall, I think the women's team is going to be just as strong as the men's team."
Q: You're returning everyone from last year. What about that has you excited?
VAUGHT: "It excites me to know that I have a lot of talent on the team still. The biggest thing is one, to stay hungry. I constantly let them know that they need to stay humble and stay hungry. If you're not a gold medalist, if you're not a world-record holder you cannot be satisfied with what you have done in the past. Just getting this group to understand the level that they can reach. Like I've said, this is one of the best groups I have ever had working together. The chemistry at practice is just unbelievable. It is great to have that much talent back and it's great to have new talent that has come in this season and I'm looking forward to seeing the future of the season."