The University of Maryland Baltimore County will host the 15th annual America East swimming and diving championship meets at the UMBC Natatorium Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Northeastern University is gunning for its sixth straight women’s title, and will get most of its opposition from UMBC and New Hampshire. The UMBC men are a prohibitive favorite and are charting a course for a second championship in their second year of AE membership.

This is the first time in five years the meet has not been held at the University of Maine’s Wallace Pool.

“The challenge for this group is going to be going to Baltimore,” said Maine coach Jeff Wren. “We’ve had it here four years in a row. So we’ve got to bring the same energy to that away pool.

“When you go somewhere every year that’s what you do, but when you’re used to not going anywhere it’s a little bit of a different story.”

The Black Bears’ best hopes for women’s meet points and individual glory lie with junior Megan Wolters, who is ranked sixth in the 200 backstroke, seventh in the 200 freestyle, eighth in the 100 backstroke, ninth in the 500 free, and 10th in the 1,000 free; sophommore Tal Shpaizer, ranked ninth in the 200-yard individual medley and 13th in the 100 breaststroke; junior Brittany Harrington, ninth in the 400 IM, 12th in the 200 breaststroke, and 13th in the 500 free; Cumberland sophomore Shannon Scott, ranked 10th in the 1-meter dive and 13th in the 3-meter dive; and senior Katrina Alcaide from Harpswell, ranked 11th in the 50 freestyle.

In the men’s meet, divers Keith Burgie of Arundel, Justin Alley of Bangor, Chris Rodway of Brewer and Isaac Forbes of Glenburn lead scholarship-challenged Maine. Other individuals to watch are sophomore Martin Fitch of Bangor in the 400 IM, 200 backstroke, and 200 breaststroke, and senior Andy Magiera of Surry in the 100 butterfly, 200 free, 200 butterfly, and 1,000 free.

Trials start each day at 10:30 a.m. Friday’s and Saturday’s championship rounds start at 6 p.m. with Sunday’s at 5:30 p.m.

Black Bears on track

Less than a week after participating in the Valentines Invitational, the University of Maine indoor track and field teams are headed back to Boston University for the 17th annual America East championship meets.

The University of Albany men are looking for their third AE title in only their fourth year of conference membership, while the Northeastern University women are aiming for their third straight title and seventh overall.

The Huskies, who blasted runner-up Albany by 51 points last year, are led by Ahndraea Allen, who won the women’s 200-meter run with an AE record time of 24.19 seconds as well as the 400 and the 55 dash last season. Allen is setting her sights on being the meet’s most outstanding track performer for a third straight year.

Other NU standouts include Aquila Williams-Judge, who won the 55 hurdles, and Laura Chmielewski, who won the pole vault with a height of 12 feet, 31/2inches.

Men’s standouts include NU’s Idris Payne, who won the 200 with an AE-record 21.45 and the 400 en route to being named outstanding track performer. Payne is also looking to win the men’s version of the award for a third straight year.

Maine’s individual best bets for titles and meet points are junior jumper Stephanie McCusker of Lisbon (triple and high jump) and sophomore Anthony Morgan of Old Town (weight throw).

Other Black Bears to watch are senior sprinter Silvia Scaldaferri, who will be leaned on for point production in events such as the 60, 200 and long jump; sophomore Hana Pelletier of Belgrade in the middle distance events; and South Portland junior Jesse Ludwig in the long and triple jumps.

Meet action starts Friday at 10 a.m. with the men’s heptathlon. Saturday’s schedule also starts at 10 a.m.

Alfond Arena overflow

The University of Maine men’s basketball program is challenging fans to fill Alfond Arena for its regular-season finale against two-time defending America East champion Vermont on Feb. 27.

Besides trying to equal the kind of home-court advantage Vermont enjoys in Burlington, the Black Bears are trying to pack Alfond Arena to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. Fifty percent of all proceeds from ticket sales for the 1 p.m. game will support Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems’ CMN program.

UMaine is charging a special rate of $5 per reserved ticket for groups of 15 or more. The regular price is $10 (adult reserved) per ticket for 14 adult tickets, $8 for youths or seniors, and $6 for general admission. Tickets or more information can be had by calling the Alfond Arena ticket office at 581-2327 (BEAR) or toll free at 1-800-756-8326 (TEAM).

Almy powers Juniata

Rachel Almy of Charleston scored seven points for the Juniata (Pa.) College women’s swimming team as it finished third at the Middle Atlantic Conference Championship meet last weekend.

Almy posted a 12th-place finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle (19 minutes, 41.74 seconds) thanks to a 10-second time drop, from her 21st-place seed. The time was eighth fastest in Juniata history.

The former Foxcroft Academy standout also posted a 5:44.06 in the 500 free, which was good for a 15th-place finish. That time was six seconds better than her previous season’s best.

The Eagles’ 11-4 record was a program high for dual-meet wins. Juniata was 6-2 in conference dual meets.