Maine swimmers recording fast times in speedy America East

Several of coach Susan Lizzotte’s swimmers are ranked among the leaders in the speedy America East Conference as the University of Maine Black Bear swimmers and divers enter the long-course (50-meter) training period of their season during the semester break.
Sophomore Naja Harvey holds the third fastest time in the 100-yard breaststroke at 1 minute, 6.3 seconds while teammate Erica Smrcina’s 57.8 in the 100 butterfly is the third fastest time this season.
Smrcina, a sophomore, also recorded a 2:08.7 in the 200 butterfly for the ninth fastest swim of an America East flyer.
Junior diver Kara Capossella, who has received multiple recognitions as the AE Diver of the Week during her tenure at Maine, totaled the second highest point total for six dives (252) during first-semester competition. Her 1-meter total of 248 points ranks fourth.
Oakland’s Sergey Terrio, a sophomore racer for UMaine, is ranked among the top 10 in the men’s AE with the eighth fastest 200 butterfly at 1:59.3.

Top times for Bangor swimmers

Meanwhile, in Maine interscholastic swimming, Bangor’s Emma Waddell has opened her junior year of racing with impressive performances. Waddell leads Maine high school swimmers in early season racing in the 200 individual medley at 2:14.3, the 50 free (24.6) and the 100 butterfly (58.8). In the 100 freestyle, Waddell’s 55.4 is second to a 55.0 recorded by Julianna McDonald,
a teammate of Waddell.
Liam Reading, a breaststroker for coach Phil Emery’s Rams, holds the fastest male breaststroke time of the young season (1:05.1).
Two Messalonskee seniors, Arthur Conover and Kristen Prelgovisk, have distinguished themselves with outstanding races. Conover is the fastest in the state in the 500 free (4:45) and the 200 free (1:46) while Prelgovisk heads the state in the female breaststroke at 1:08.5.

Swim notes

— Husson University will host the Eagles Masters Meet at noon on Jan. 20. The meet registered with Maine Master’s allows for pre-meet registration as well as on-deck entries. Inquiries regarding the competition should be directed to meet director Thomas Branch at the Bangor-based campus.
— Florida State appears to be preparing for a very fast 200 free relay in NCAA Division I. FSU has the fastest 50 swimmer, Paul Murray, thus far this season at 19.3 as well as  the third fastest swimmer, Mark Weber at 19.5.