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ORONO – When parents Yuriy and Ludmila Rybalko decided on Viktoriya as the name of their first-born, they couldn’t have picked a more appropriate one.
Viktoriya Yurievna Rybalko has notched far more “Viktories” than losses on the way to becoming the University of Maine’s best female long jumper ever and one of the best athletes in the history of the Black Bears’ athletic program.
“That was the idea behind it, actually,” the 20-year-old Rybalko said with a slight laugh. “My parents always put a lot of meaning in these things and I guess they knew what they were doing.”
Rybalko’s stunningly successful UMaine career is winding down and this weekend marks her last home meet at the Beckett Family track and field complex as Maine hosts the America East Conference championships. Action starts at 9 a.m. Saturday with the pentathlon and decathlon. Field events start at noon and running events at 1 p.m. Sunday’s events start at 9 a.m. with the men’s 110-meter hurdles finals.
“I’m sad about this being my last home meet, and I’m having the whole issue of thinking about my college career ending,” she said wistfully.
All nine conference members will be competing as Northeastern University goes for its third straight title on the men’s side and second straight for the women. Top contenders in both meets should be Northeastern, Boston University, Albany, New Hampshire and Maine.
Rybalko will be gunning for her second straight titles in both the long and triple jumps, but that’s just a piece of the academic and athletic awards iceberg she has formed the last four years.
The native of Zaporzhye, Ukraine, who was recruited by Maine via the Internet, was named the America East women’s most outstanding field performer each of the last two indoor track seasons. She doesn’t regret choosing Maine.
“I think I found what I really want to do in life here, which is the greatest thing, and being able to go into biomedical studies is wonderful,” she said.
Other athletic milestones include:
. Finishing second at the prestigious Penn Relays in the long jump with a distance of 21 feet, 63/4 inches (the third-best mark ever at the meet).
. Winning the 2002-03 ECAC indoor long jump title.
. Holding six Maine indoor and five Maine outdoor track and field records in events such as the long and triple jumps, dashes (60, 100 and 200 meters), 55 hurdles, 800 (4-by-200) and the 400 relays.
“She’s the toughest competitor I know,” said Palmyra’s Katie Page, one of Rybalko’s best friends on the team and a fellow standout (shot put, discus, javelin, 4-by-100). “Her goals are for herself. She hates to lose, but it doesn’t get into her head where she thinks she’s the best there is. She has a unique, great attitude and it’s a hard thing to develop.”
Academically, Rybalko has a 3.65 GPA as a microbiology major. Honors include:
. Winning UMaine’s 2003 Dean Smith Award, presented annually to the student-athlete who exhibits exemplary academic and athletic achievement along with leadership and character;
. Being a member of the academic advisory board.
. Acceptance to the University of Rochester (N.Y.) medical school as a graduate student in biomedical sciences to study microbiology/immunology and pursue a PhD.
“I’ve always received athletic awards, but I am very, very proud of people recognizing me for academics and not just athletics,” she said.
Rybalko would jump at the chance to compete in Olympic trials and the Olympics.
“I’d love to, but it depends on who would coach me because they’re so important in your development,” she said.
As successful as she is, the approachable, unassuming Rybalko is just one of the team members when she’s in the weight room, practicing, on the bus, or just hanging out.
But make no mistake, the 5-foot-11 student-athlete who prefers to be called Vika by friends, teammates and family is all business, especially when the meet is on.
“She always looks confident as soon as she steps on the track,” said sophomore teammate Silvia Scaldaferri. “Warmups, trials, everything. No matter what she’s doing, she works to the max.”
Then there’s the on-track example she sets.
“When she runs, she’s going a lot faster than she looks because everything’s so fluid and going forward, and she has her knees going so high and her strides going so long … There’s not a lot of wasted movement,” said Scaldaferri.
The reactions of Maine assistant coaches Rolland Ranson and Mark Lech to Rybalko’s achievements may be the best way to try and sum up her talent. Despite all she has done, she has failed to surprise them.
“You look at an athlete, you can tell they’re an athlete and she had all the attributes. It was obvious to us she was a talent,” said Lech. “The good thing about track is no matter where you are, the numbers [times, distances] don’t lie.”
“She’s among the all-time elite athletes here at Maine and certainly one of the top ones in New England right now,” said Ranson. “I guess that’s pretty much what I expected.”
The only concern for the coaches was her maturity. She was just 16 her freshman year.
“It’s quite an adjustment to come all the way over here and go to school,” Lech said. “Kids who live in this country, or even in this state have quite an adjustment to make.”
But adjust she did.
“Her 16 is a lot more different than an American 16,” Ranson said. “She’s got goals and priorities and she has a wonderful approach to life. I think it comes from a wonderful upbringing and a great family environment.”
Her youth hides a level of maturity that has been a fringe benefit to her team in terms of leadership and mentoring.
“She taught me that even if you aren’t 100 percent confident, always show you are at the starting line.,” said Scaldaferri. “You have to show it off. You have to glow. Most important, you need courage.”
Rybalko has all of that, as the glow and shine from the numerous awards and trophies she has won can attest.
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