UMBC Maintains Lead at America East Championships on Second Day

BOSTON, Massachusetts, February 10. THE UMBC men's and women's swimming and diving teams each extended their leads on the third day of competition at the 2007 America East Championships at Boston University's Aquatic Center. Two more school records fell in Saturday's finals session, and the Retrievers took home three gold medals, seven silvers and two bronzes on the day.

In a tight women's race, the Retriever women have amassed 455 points, followed by host Boston University (426) and two-time defending champion New Hampshire (414). Vermont (299), Maine (287), Stony Brook (199) and Binghamton (171) round out the seven-team field.

On the men's side, three-time defending champion UMBC extended its lead over second-place Binghamton, 609.5-538. Stony Brook (380.5), Boston U. (332) and Maine (272) round out the five-team field.

The 100-breast silver medalist a year ago, sophomore Tina Cantwell grabbed UMBC's first gold medal of the evening, winning the event in 1:03.93. Classmate Joy Wilde placed fifth in 1:07.78.

In the men's heat, junior Scott Auchter, the 2006 bronze medalist, broke the school record with his time of 56.59 and took home the silver, finishing behind Stony Brook's Jon Sigurosson, who broke his own meet and pool records with his winning time of 56.04. The previous UMBC mark of 56.64 was set by Kevin Goh in 2001. Senior Pat Woodward won the 100-breast consolation heat and placed ninth in 1:01.18.

Freshman Rasmus Kutt, who set a meet and pool record in the 100-back prelims, won the finals in 50.08. Sophomore Milos Djukic (51.26) and senior Tim Conway (53.14) placed fourth and sixth, respectively, while senior Brian Jaeggi won the consolation heat to place ninth (53.75).

The Retrievers' final gold medal of the day came from the women's 400-medley relay team of senior Agnes Stanislawska, Cantwell, sophomore Daniele Surkovich and junior Meghan Sackett, who won the event in a school-record time of 3:49.49. The previous mark of 3:50.46 was set in 2004.

For the second year in a row, sophomore Evan Roseberry won silver in the 400-IM, finishing in 4:03.90. Junior Adam Eiben claimed the bronze with his time of 4:08.80, while Jaeggi placed sixth (4:12.44) and junior Joey Sementelli came in eighth (4:14.44). Binhamton's Brenno Veranda set a new meet record while taking home the gold.

Sophomore Justin Bronson finished second in the 100-fly in 50.02, while freshmen Matt Mattingly (50.99) and Zach Vonder Haar (52.61) placed fifth and eighth, respectively. Junior Eric Skrabacz came in second in the consolation heat to finish 10th (53.10). Binghamton's Trevor Stone won the event.

Senior diver Jeff Salgado claimed his second silver medal of the meet, placing second in the 3-meter competition with a score of 303.45. Boston University's Brian Lawler took home his second gold of the weekend with his score of 346.25.

Sophomore Freddie Reitz took home bronze in the 200-free for the second straight year, finishing third in 1:42.22. He led four Retrievers in the finals, as seniors Juan Ortiz (1:42.75), Ryan Karrer (1:43.08) and Cliff Schmardel (1:45.15) placed fourth, fifth and eighth, respectively. Binghamton's David Holmes swam an NCAA automatic qualifying time to win the event.

In the final men's event of the evening, Kutt, Auchter, Mattingly and Bronson teamed to place second in the 400-medley relay (3:22.66) to Binghamton, which broke its own meet record by two-hundredths of a second.

On the women's side, Surkovich, Sackett and Stanislawska all took home silver medals. Surkovich placed second in the 100-fly (56.79) for the second year in a row, while Sackett took second in the 200-free (1:51.78) a year after winning the event and Stanislawska finished second in the 100-back (57.95) for the second straight year.

Freshman Lindsay Sherman joined Surkovich in the 100-fly finals and placed fourth (57.92), while freshman Kate Chialastri (59.05) and junior Lindsey Engler (59.17) swam in the consolation heat and placed ninth and 10th, respectively. Sherman also came in eighth in the 200-free (1:57.11).

Freshman Tereza Kaplanova, UMBC's lone representative in the 400-IM, placed fourth in 4:31.98, while junior Carly Fitzpatrick came in 13th in the 100-back (1:02.10).

The four-day America East Championships conclude Sunday with the men's and women's 1,650-free, 200-back, 100-free, 200-breast, 100-fly and 400-free relay and the women's 1-meter diving. The morning preliminary session begins at 10 a.m., while finals begin at 5:30 p.m.

Women's Team Scores
1. UMBC 455
2. Boston U. 426
3. New Hampshire 414
4. Vermont 299
5. Maine 287
6. Stony Brook 199
7. Binghamton 171

Men's Team Scores
1. UMBC 609.5
2. Binghamton 538
3. Stony Brook 380.5
4. Boston U. 332
5. Maine 272

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