UMaine women’s swimming and diving (1-1, 0-1) dropped their America East opener Saturday afternoon to the University of Vermont Catamounts (3-2, 3-1) at Forbush Natatorium in Burlington, Vt. 169-111.
The meet began Saturday with the 200-yard medley relay. UMaine placed second, fourth and sixth. The runner-up relay team of fourth-year Victoria Kingston, second-year Sabrina Nuttall, third-year Megan McGillivray and second-year Emma Blair finished with a time of 1:48.81 for the Black Bears.
Maine took home first place in three separate events. Kingston was the winner in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing in 59.17 seconds. First-year Caroline Strolic took home the 200-yard individual medley at 2:17.05, and Blair teamed up with fourth-year Emily Borger, second-year Rita Chen and third-year Juliana McDonald to take home the 200-yard freestyle relay.
In the 50-yard freestyle, Blair finished close behind the first-place Catamount swimmer, chalking up a time of 24.85. Nuttall placed third in the 100-yard breaststroke, with a time of 1:07.62. Second-year Lynsie Russell earned second place with a time of 2:12.09 in the 200-yard fly. McDonald finished fourth place in that same event with a time of 2:24.95, Borger placed fifth with a time of 2:25.06.
The second event of the meet featured the 1,000-yard freestyle. UVM placed in the top three before Maine’s first-year Emily Lund finished with a time of 10:51.39. After the 1,000-yard freestyle was the 200-yard freestyle, as fourth-year Chloe Adams recorded a Maine-best time of 1:59.12, yet only earned fourth place overall. The fourth event on Saturday was the 100-yard backstroke. McGillivray finished second, with a time of 1:00.41.
Both the women’s and men’s swimming and diving teams are off until Nov. 17, when Maine will take their talents to Kingston, R.I. and compete at the Harold Anderson Invitational. The invitational is held at the Tootell Aquatic Center, on the University of Rhode Island campus. Vermont is back in action on Sunday, Nov. 12 as they take on Bryant University at Forbush Natatorium. The meet is scheduled for a noon start.
