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First appeared Feb. 17, 2002
The University of Maine hosted the 2003 America East Conference Swimming and Diving Championships this weekend, coupling a festive attitude with intense competition. After three days of boiling the Stanley Wallace Pool, both the men’s and women’s squads ended the weekend in fifth place.
Northeastern University took home the gold on the women’s side with 885.5 points, followed by runner-up New Hampshire with 774.5. Maine registered 384.
Junior Kate Abbott added to a growing collection of school records this weekend, bringing her total to four after two unprecedented swims in distance freestyle. Abbott, already part of the fastest 200 and 400 freestyle relays in UMaine women’s history, stopped the clock in Friday afternoon’s trial session at 5:08.65 in the 500-yard freestyle. The time eclipsed the old mark of 5:09.06, set by Julie Woodcock in 1979. Abbott would later swim to sixth place in the event with a time of 5:12.12.
Abbott again made history in the final session of the weekend in the 1,650 freestyle. Finishing fourth in the 66-length race at 17:42.21, Abbott broke the old record of 17:47.26 set by Noreen Solakoff in 1990.
Abbott would also place eighth in the 200 fly with a time of 2:13.97.
Backstroker Stephanie Smietana brought home hardware for UMaine in both the 100- and 200-yard disciplines. Saturday, Smietana was one of only five women to drop under the one-minute barrier in the 100 back, taking fourth with a time of 59.54. Smietana performed even better in the 200 back, taking third with a time of 2:07.51.
Katrine Alcaide also spent time on the podium over the weekend, placing third in Friday’s 50-yard freestyle at 23.99 and fourth in the 100 free in 52.65. The Binghamton men were team champions, scoring 771 points to top bridesmaid Boston University. The Black Bear men racked up 397.5 in the fifth-place effort.
The men were led by junior Jacob Jentzer, a second-place finisher in the 100 butterfly. Jentzer clocked in at 51.32, edged only by champion Matt Hanson of Stony Brook. Jentzer also placed seventh in the 100 freestyle (48.13) and eighth in the 50 free (22.33).
Senior captain Nick Baser contributed with his breaststroking talents, placing fifth in the 100 and 200 distances. Baser hit the wall at 1:00.74 in the 100 breast and 2:12.13 in the 200. Baser also took eighth place in Friday evening’s 200 individual medley, touching the pad at 2:02.13.
Virtually all swimmers recorded season best times in their event, providing all Black Bear competitors with something to smile about.
“We’re really happy about the way things went,” senior Dan Donahue said. “The atmosphere on deck is great and so many people have gotten their best times.”
The times were only part of the weekend’s significance for the Black Bears, as the meet that culminates the season provides other things to remember.
Beginning Friday afternoon, athletes focused in quiet determination, channeling their emotions into kicks and strokes. By the end of Sunday’s sessions, clouds of relaxation seemed to linger in the air. Posing for photographs dominated the on-deck activities by the end of the meet and the easing of tension around the pool was nearly audible. Seniors from each team were recognized before the start of Sunday’s final session.
Thirteen from UMaine were honored: captains Marcy Barrows and Heather Krebs, Esther Hatch, Ashley Simpson, Nicole Warren and Tina Welch for the women; captains Baser and Gene Connolly, Elbert Blanchard, John Delehanty, Donahue, Scott Machinist and Dave Gerrie.
