The University of Maine men’s and women’s indoor track teams are traveling to Boston University’s new track and tennis center for the third straight weekend.

After the women finished fourth and the men seventh in last weekend’s America East Conference championships, assistant coach Mark Lech is optimistic about the Black Bears’ chances this time at the New England Championships.

“I think the men’s meet is kind of open, but UConn will be pretty strong, along with Northeastern and Rhode Island,” Lech said. “The women’s meet is even more wide open with URI, UConn, and maybe Wheaton College along with us and New Hampshire having a shot.”

That’s not to say anyone on the Maine team is clearing space in the trophy cabinet just yet.

“We have to have everyone on our [women’s] team have a perfect meet to have a shot at winning, and even then it would be real tight,” Lech said.

The bulk of Maine’s point production in the women’s meet should come from the distance/middle distance runners and their jumpers.

Sophomore Kristen Vidlak and senior Janeen Shepard of Brunswick are seeded second and fifth, respectively, while freshman Hana Pelletier of Belgrade is the second seed in the 800, and junior Heather Jovanelli of Brewer is seeded fourth in the mile.

Maine’s 4-by-800 relay team of Pelletier, Vidlak, Jovanelli and Shepard is the top seed.

Junior Silvia Scaldaferri, sophomore Stephanie McCusker of Lisbon, and freshman Rachel McCaslin of Westbrook are seeded as Nos. 3, 4 and 6, respectively, in the long jump. McCusker is also a fourth seed in the triple jump and senior Claire Poliquin is a third seed in the high jump, which she won last week.

Others to watch include East Vassalboro sophomore Katie Souviney in the hurdles, Amanda Virgets in the 500, and Katie Page of Palmyra in the shot put.

In the men’s meet, freshman Sean Steinhagen of Portland is the top seed and junior Paul Ruprecht is ranked No. 4 in the 1000. Andy Caron of Topsham is the fifth seed in the mile.

The 4-by-800 relay team, which was disqualified last week due to pushing and jostling around during the race, a charge which Lech disputes, will have a chance to erase that disappointment as the third seed.

Action starts with the running of the men’s and women’s pentathlons at 10 and 10:15 a.m. Friday. Saturday’s schedule starts with the men’s shot put and triple jump at 11:30 a.m.

Sugarloaf hosts colleges

More than 500 collegiate athletes will converge on Sugarloaf/USA ski resort in Carrabassett Valley for the U.S. Collegiate Skiing and Snowboard National Championships March 1-6.

Colby-Sawyer, Boston College, the U.S. Air Force Academy, Penn State and Cornell will compete against others in this weeklong event. They will compete in slalom, giant slalom, alpine, snowboard, half-pipe, slope-style and border cross events as well as various Nordic races.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600 or at aneff@bangordailynews.net