UMBC

Megan Sackett was the only Retriever to win an individual title on the third day of competition at the America East Championships.

Boston-The UMBC men’s swimming and diving team have a commanding lead after three days of competition at the 2006 America East Championships. The defending conference champion Retrievers have accumulated 598 points, 112.5 more than second-place Binghamton (485.5). The UMBC women are in second place with 471 points, just 27 behind reigning league titlist New Hampshire (498).

Sophomore Meghan Sackett was the only Retriever to be crowned a conference champion on either side Saturday evening, as she took the 200-yard freestyle in 1:51.71.

Just one night after taking the top seven places in the men’s 500-free, the Retrievers struck again tonight, taking five of the top eight spots in the 200-free. Freshman Justin Bronson led the way in second place (1:39.26), followed by freshman Freddie Reitz (1:41.45) in third, junior Juan Ortiz (1:41.65) in fourth, junior Ryan Karrer (1:43.18) in sixth and senior Joe Raymond (1:44.11) in seventh.

The women placed four freshmen in the top eight in the 100-breast, with Tina Cantwell leading the way in second place (1:55.22), followed by Robin Klein (1:05.87) in fourth, Joy Wilde (1:07.20) in sixth and Courtney White (1:08.00) in eighth.

Cantwell had a good night for UMBC, as she also took home the bronze in the 400-IM (4:32.31). Freshman Brittany Bertoli, the only other Retriever to advance to the evening session in the event, placed 15th (4:55.44).

The men’s 400-IM was led by freshman Evan Roseberry, who took home the silver (4:06.27). Sophomore Joey Sementelli (4:12.45) and junior Brian Jaeggi (4:14.35) placed sixth and seventh, respectively.

The men’s 100-breast also had an impressive showing, as sophomore Scott Auchter (57.37), senior Ian Carey (58.34) and senior Adam Blais (58.40) finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Senior Geza Szabo took second in the 100-fly (50.03), while sophomore Eric Skrabacz placed sixth (51.75). Sophomore Alejandro Lopez won the consolation heat to place ninth overall (52.10), while junior Nebojsa Zimonjic finished 14th (53.57).

In the women’s 100-fly, freshman Daniele Surkovich placed second (57.64), while sophomore Lindsey Engler came in sixth (59.14), senior Elyse Gibson finished 13th (1:00.73) and freshman Elisha Peregino took 15th (1:01.57).

The Retriever men placed three in the 100-back championship finals, with Zimonjic taking fourth (52.47), junior Tim Conway finishing fifth (52.65) and freshman Milos Djukic placing seventh (52.88). In addition, Lopez again won the consolation heat to come in ninth (53.55).

On the women’s side, junior Agnes Stanislawska placed second in the 100-back (58.05), while senior Amber Harris took fourth (59.25).

In the final individual event of the evening, junior diver Jeff Salgado placed fourth in the three-meter competition (425.95).

The men’s 400-medley relay team of Zimonjic, Auchter, Szabo and Blais took home the silver with a time of 3:23.75, which would have shattered the America East Championship meet record of 3:27.16, set by Drexel in 1992, had it not been for Binghamton’s winning time of 3:20.67.

The women’s 400-medley relay team of Harris, Stanislawska, Sackett and Surkovich also placed second with a time of 3:52.13.

The Retriever men lead the competition with 598 team points, followed by Binghamton (485.5), Stony Brook (466), Boston U. (316), Maine (255.5) and New Hampshire (120). New Hampshire leads the women’s competition with 498 points, followed by UMBC (471), Boston U. (388), Maine (284), Stony Brook (249.5), Vermont (203) and Binghamton (157.5).

Competition continues tomorrow with the fourth and final day of the 2006 America East Swimming and Diving Championships at Boston University’s Aquatic Center. Sunday’s prelims begin at 10 a.m. and include the 200-back, 100-free, 200-breast, 200-fly and 1,650-free. The finals begin at 5:30 p.m. and will include the women’s one-meter diving, as well as the men’s and women’s 400-free relay.