Former University of Maine track and field standout Viktoriya Rybalko has qualified to represent her native Ukraine in the upcoming Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Rybalko, who won UMaine’s Dean Smith Award in 2003, qualified with a mark of 22 feet, 6 inches in the long jump. She’s ranked among the top 19 long jumpers worldwide.

Rybalko competed for the Black Bears from 1999-2003, winning six New England titles in indoor track and field, two in outdoor, and 10 America East championships while establishing 11 school records.

In 2003, she led the UMaine women’s team to the New England championship and placed second in the NCAA Championships in the long jump, earning All-American status.

Four other current UMaine track and field standouts enjoyed solid performances at the Canadian Olympic Trials in Windsor, Ontario, over the weekend.

Allyson Howatt qualified for the finals in the 200 meters, finishing fourth in her preliminary heat in 24.91 seconds before finishing ninth in the finals (24.48).

Howatt also competed in the 100 meters, finishing ninth in the prelims in 12.17.

Vicki Tolton earned a slot in the finals in the 400, posting a 55.86 in the preliminary heat before placing eighth overall in 56.75.

Tanya Simard earned a sixth-place finish in her triple jump flight and was 13th in the prelims with a leap of 36 feet, 2 inches.

Jessica Bond earned 13th place in the javelin with a heave of 116 feet.

Choroszy joins Monks staff

Rod Choroszy has been hired as an assistant baseball coach at Saint Joseph’s College in Standish, head coach Will Sanborn announced Monday.

Choroszy’s duties will include overseeing the pitching staff, recruiting and assisting with practice game planning.

Choroszy played college baseball at the University of Maine for the late Jack Butterfield, and has a degree in health and physical education from the institution.

He coached at South Portland High School for 16 seasons in the 1980s and 1990s, leading the Red Riots to one Western Maine Class A championship. Choroszy teaches health and physical education at South Portland.

Free baseball, football clinics

The University of Maine is offering free football and baseball clinics directed by Black Bears’ football coach Jack Cosgrove and baseball coach Steve Trimper today at Deering High School in Portland.

The football clinic will be held from 3-4 p.m. and the baseball clinic 4-5 p.m.

The football clinic will provide instruction for several positions on offense, defense and special teams while the baseball clinic will offer fundamentals on hitting, fielding and pitching.

IWLCA honors Henning

Colby College’s Karen Henning was honored by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association as the Pilgrim Region Coach of the Year.

Henning guided the Mules to the NESCAC championships and a berth in the NCAA Division III tournament in her first season at the helm.

Henning was named the IWLCA’s Division II Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2007 after leading Long Island University-C.W. Post to national championships in both those seasons.

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