Viktoriya Rybalko of Maine followed up America East, New England, and ECAC long jump wins with another victory, this time at the NCAA East Regional at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. on May 30-31. Rybalko was one of five America East performers to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
Rybalko didn’t even need to use her final five attempts, as she sailed 6.53m (21' 5.25") in her first leap of the day to win the long jump competition. The distance was just 1.5 inches off her own school record, which she set in April at the Penn Relays. With her performance this weekend, Rybalko advances to compete in the NCAA Championships at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, Calif. June 11-14.
Other America East qualifiers include Teresa Covert of Albany, who finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles in 13.54; Ahndraea Allen of Northeastern, who earned an at-large berth in the 400 meters with a time of 53.14; Jochen Dieckfoss of Boston Univeristy, who was third in the Steeplechase with a time of 8:45.04; and Vinny Tortorella of Northeastern, who was fourth in the hammer throw with a distance of 63.04m (206'10.0").