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Inside Hokie Sports
WOMEN’S JUMPS/
MULTI-EVENTS
TOP RETURNERS
Eszter Bajnok, Emily Miller
NEWCOMERS
Stefanie Aeschlimann, Cecilia Marenick
OVERVIEW
Bajnok enjoyed an impressive freshman campaign last winter and
spring, earning All-ACC honors in the triple jump during both the
indoor and outdoor seasons. At the league’s indoor meet, she came in
fourth in the triple jump and tied the school record in the event (12.60
meters; 41 feet, 4.25 inches). Then at the league’s outdoor meet, she
earned a bronze medal after breaking the school record (13.05 meters;
42 feet, 9.75 inches). Tech’s staff expects her to be even better this
season. She figures to get some help from two freshmen—Marenick
and Aeschlimann. Aeschlimann, in particular, brings international
experience in the triple jump, as she has competed in four U20
German National Championships and in the U23 German National
Championships.
JUMPS/MULTI-EVENTS COACH
PAUL ZALEWSKI’S
TAKE
“It was a good season for Eszter, with her adjusting from her home
country of Hungary to life in the U.S. Just like with [Mackenzie]
Muldoon, she’s training really well now, and I’m looking forward to
seeing what 2018 has in store for her.
“Stefanie Aeschlimann is a triple jumper joining the team from
Germany, and I couldn’t be happier with the fall season she had. She’s
an amazing young woman to work with, very hard working, great
personality, tireless work ethic, and has consistently improved on all
her training metrics through the fall. I’ve seen a great relationship form
between her and Eszter, both on and off the track, and that friendly
competition is really helping both of them push harder and harder
every day. That’s really fun to watch.”
MEN’S
POLE VAULT
TOP RETURNERS
Torben Laidig, Deakin Volz, James Steck, Jaelyn Demory
NEWCOMER
Joel Leon Benitez
OVERVIEW
The men’s squad saw steady performers Brad Johnson and Jeffrey
Linta depart after last season, but the group includes plenty of talent
led by school record holders Laidig and Volz—both of whom figure to
contend for ACC titles this upcoming season. Laidig, a two-time ACC
champion and a four-time All-American, is coming off a shortened
outdoor season because of a broken bone in his hand, but should be in
the hunt for national title honors this season. The 2016 NCAA outdoor
silver medalist holds Tech’s outdoor mark of 18 feet, 8.25 inches (5.70
meters). Volz, a two-time All-American and a bronze medalist at the
2016 NCAA indoor meet, holds the Tech indoor record of 18 feet, 6.75
inches. Laidig, Volz and Steck have combined for 11 All-ACC honors,
while Demory, who took a redshirt year last season, and Benitez, the
No. 1-ranked U20 pole vaulter in the United Kingdom, will be making
their collegiate debuts.
POLE VAULT COACH
BOB PHILLIPS’
TAKE
“We are not as deep as we have been in the past—we are a little
smaller [in terms of
numbers]. Although by
some teams’ standards,
we’re not small. But the
quality of the group is
the highest we’ve ever
had. Expectations-wise,
records and medals and
those sorts of things as
it is, my expectations
