Viktoriya Rybalko of Maine, who was second in the long jump, Natalie Grant (hammer throw) of Boston University, and Vinny Tortorella (hammer throw) of Northeastern earned All-America honors at the NCAA Track and Field Championships Friday (June 13) at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, Calif.
Rybalko finished second in the long jump with a distance of 6.53 meters (21'05.25"). Elva Goulbourne of Auburn won the event with a leap of 6.76 meters (22'02.25"). Rybalko had qualified with a leap of 6.30 meters (20'08.0") in the preliminaries Wednesday (June 11).
Grant earned a ninth-place finish in the hammer throw with a distance of 59.46 meters (195'01") Saturday (June 14). Candice Scott of Florida was champion in the event with a distance of 69.79 meters (229'00"). Grant had earned the berth in the final with a distance of 66.64 meters (198'11.0") in the preliminaries Thursday (June 12). Grant placed ninth overall, but seventh among Americans, thus earning her All-America status.
Tortorella threw a career-best 66.27 meters (217'05") in the finals to place seventh. Lucais MacKay of Georgia won the event with a throw of 70.19 meters (230'03"). Tortorella had advanced to the finals with a distance of 63.91 meters (209'08"), 10th overall in the preliminaries Wednesday.
Jochen Dieckfoss of Boston University finished 11th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:47.54 Friday. Dan Lincoln of Arkansas won the event in 8:26.65. Dieckfoss had earned the berth in the final with his 8:36.09 performance in the preliminaries Wednesday.
Teresa Covert of Albany, the America East Champion in the 100-meter hurdles, ran 13.99 in that event Wednesday and failed to advance to the final. Perdita Felicien of Illinois was the top qualifier with a time of 12.89.
Ahndraea Allen of Northeastern, the America East Champion in the 400 meters, ran 54.55 in that event Thursday and failed to advance. Allison Beckford of Rice (51.80) was the top qualifier.