The top age-group swimmers in Maine will again travel outside of the U.S. to participate in Maine Swimming Inc.’s 2004 Summer Combined Championships.

The meet, which starts today and runs through Sunday, will be held at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre in Saint John, New Brunswick, for the second year in a row.

The Summer Combined Championships features the top USA Swimming-affiliated clubs in the state, including the Bangor-based Hurricane Swim Club, Coastal Maine Aquatics of Cape Elizabeth, the Westbrook Seals, the Portland Porpoises, and Seacoast Swim Club of Cumberland.

In addition, swimmers who compete for YMCA teams but also have USA Swimming affiliation may also participate. Teams like the Sharks of the MDI YMCA and Long Reach Swim Club of the Bath YMCA traditionally do well.

Competition starts today with the 1,500-meter freestyle for ages 13-14 and ages 15-and-over. Racing picks up Friday with two sessions and runs through Sunday evening.

Coastal Maine Aquatics scored 3,780 points in the combined (boys and girls scores) team category to win the meet last year. The Hurricanes were second with 2,436 points, and Westbrook was third with 2,111.

The Hurricanes were second in the boys team scoring. The Hurricane girls were fourth overall.

The Saint John pool is 50 meters long as opposed to the 25-yard competition pools in Maine, which is the only state without a 50-meter pool available to the public, according to USA Swimming.

Maine Swimming decided to make the move to the meter pool in order to expose Maine swimmers to what’s going on around the rest of the country, Maine Swimming official Steve Alcaide said last year.

Some Canadian swimmers in the 13-14 and senior age groups will also be competing.

The top 16 finishers in both individual and relay events will be scored. Trophies will also be awarded to the top eight Maine individuals and teams in both genders and all age groups based on points accrued during the course of the entire meet.

The top two Maine finishers in each event will qualify for the Eastern Zone meet, which will be held Aug. 11-14 in Buffalo, N.Y.