UMBC

Justin Bronson nearly broke the school record in the 500-free en route to winning the America East title, leading UMBC's sweep of the top seven spots in the event.

Boston-The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams are both in the lead after the second day of competition at the America East Championships at Boston University’s Aquatic Center. The defending conference champion Retriever men have totaled 297.5 team points, 38.5 more than second-place Binghamton (259), while the women have amassed 275 points, 16 more than reigning league titlist New Hampshire.

The story of the evening was the men’s 500-yard freestyle, in which UMBC took the top seven spots in the finals. Freshman Justin Bronson led the way, winning the event in meet-record time of 4:28.79, less than two-tenths of a second off of head coach Chad Cradock’s school record of 4:28.62, set in 1996.

Freshman Freddie Reitz placed second in 4:29.69, which also would have broken the championship meet mark of 4:30.46 had it not been for Bronson. Reitz’s time was also nearly 10 seconds lower than his preliminary swim of 4:39.29.

Freshman Evan Roseberry (4:32.14) took the bronze in the event, followed by junior Ryan Karrer (4:34.47) in fourth, senior Geza Szabo (4:39.84) in fifth, senior Joe Raymond (4:40.51) in sixth and sophomore Joey Sementelli (4:47.51) in seventh.

The Retriever women also had a strong showing in the 500-free, as sophomore Meghan Sackett set a new meet record, winning the event in 4:54.13, more than four seconds lower than the previous mark of 4:58.94.

Senior Amber Harris (5:05.95) and sophomore Rachel Lesslie (5:09.53) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.

In the women’s 50-free, UMBC swept the top three medals, as freshman Daniele Surkovich (24.02) took the gold, senior Elyse Gibson (24.33) won silver and freshman Robin Klein (24.42) came away with bronze. In addition, sophomore Lindsey Engler (24.87) placed seventh in the event.

On the men’s side, junior Tim Conway (21.21) swam his best time of the season in the 50-free to place second. In addition, sophomore Scott Auchter (22.17) and freshman Milos Djukic (22.20) finished 13th and 14th, respectively.

UMBC’s final conference champion of the evening was the 200-free relay team of Klein, Engler, Gibson and Surkovich, who swam a 1:37.05 for the gold.

The men’s 200-free relay team of senior Adam Blais, Bronson, Conway and junior Juan Ortiz placed second behind Binghamton in 1:25.16.

In the women’s three-meter diving finals, junior Ashley Houghton took second place with a score of 476.10, while junior Katie Spohnholz finished eighth with a score of 326.95.

The 200-IM was the only event of the evening in which the Retrievers did not place a swimmer in the top three. On the women’s side, junior Agnes Stanislawska (2:06.46) placed fourth and freshman Joy Wilde (2:09.14) took seventh, while on the men’s side, Ortiz came in fourth (1:53.71), Blais in fifth (1:53.73), sophomore Eric Skrabacz (1:57.17) in ninth, junior Brian Jaeggi (2:00.90) in 15th and sophomore Alejandro Lopez (2:03.39) in 16th.

UMBC leads the men’s competition with 297.5 team points, followed by Binghamton (259), Stony Brook (218.5), Boston U. (177), Maine (137) and New Hampshire (69). The Retrievers also lead the women’s competition with 275 team points, followed by New Hampshire (259), Boston U. (214), Maine (160), Stony Brook (136.5), Vermont (110) and Binghamton (107.5).

Competition continues tomorrow for day three of the 2006 America East Swimming and Diving Championships. Saturday’s prelims begin at 10 a.m. for the 400-IM, 100-fly, 200-free, 100-back and 100-breast. Finals will start at 5:30 p.m. and will also include the men’s three-meter diving competition, as well as the men’s and women’s 400-medley relay.