Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech track and field and cross country director Dave Cianelli announced Tuesday that Chauncey Chambers and Laurel Miller will join the Hokies for the 2018-19 season.
The Hokies' staff, made up of Andrew Dubs, Ben Thomas, Eric Johannigmeier, Bob Phillips, Tim Vaught and Paul Zalewski, has added two more athletes to one of the best recruiting classes in school history. Track and Field News will release its top recruiting classes in its annual summer magazine.
"I am really excited to welcome Chauncey to the Virginia Tech family," jumps/multi-events coach Zalewski said. "I've been very impressed with the progress he has made through his senior year of high school. He got a late start with the triple jump, so I see a lot more growth potential in him as the years go along. I'm looking forward to getting him here and getting to work."
A native of Springfield, Virginia, Chambers comes to Blacksburg as a two-time state champ in the VHSL's triple jump event. In addition to his two state titles at Robert E. Lee High School, Chambers owns the No. 1 mark in the state of Virginia in the triple jump and is a two-time New Balance National Championships qualifier. His personal best in the triple jump is 14.87 meters (48 feet, 9.75 inches).
"I chose Virginia Tech because, on my visit," Cannon mentioned, "it is where I really saw myself being able to excel farther forward."
"Hokie Nation gets a big boost as we welcome Laurel to the family," Zalewski said. "She's got great talent, but what struck me the most was her focus and determination to be the best. It was quite obvious she was ready and willing to put in the work to get better. Her attitude will fit in perfectly with the rest of the jump squad and she should be an immediate contributor to our success at the ACC Championships and beyond."
Miller joins Tech following a state title in the 2017 WVSSAC high jump event. Miller, from College of Charleston, owned the No. 1 mark in the high jump in the state West Virginia in 2017. Miller also was a qualifier at the 2017 New Balance National Championships. The Ripley, West Virginia native's top mark in the high jump is 1.75 meters (5 feet, 9 inches).
"The decision was simple, Virginia Tech was incomparable to anywhere else," Miller said. "I knew the minute I stepped foot on campus that is was the place for me. Tech has everything I'm looking for in a major and a team. I cannot wait to be on campus in the fall!"
The Hokies will begin the 2018 ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday, starting at 11 a.m. ET in Coral Gables, Florida.