Top Mainers dip into Canada Games’ pool

Most of Maine’s top swimmers will again head to Canada for Maine Swimming Inc.’s Summer Combined Championship meet.

The meet, which starts today and wraps up Sunday, is held at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre in Saint John, New Brunswick.

The first event, the 400-meter freestyle for ages 10 and under, will start at 4:30 p.m. EST.

There will be two sessions Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Morning races will start at 8:30 a.m. all three days, with the second session Friday and Saturday beginning at 4:30 p.m. and the second session Sunday beginning at 4 p.m.

Why go all the way to Saint John? The Canada Games facility has a 50-meter pool.

Maine is the only state without a 50-meter pool available to the public, according to USA Swimming. Across the nation summer championships are held in so-called long-course pools.

The field for the Summer Combined meet will consist of some Canadian swimmers along with Maine’s USA Swimming-affiliated clubs. Those include the Bangor Y-based Hurricane Swim Club, Cape Elizabeth’s Coastal Maine Aquatics, the Westbrook Seals, the Portland Porpoises and the 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, the Bangor YMCA Barracudas and Long Reach Swim Club of the Bath YMCA traditionally do well.

Coastal Maine Aquatics is the defending champion. The Hurricanes finished fourth overall and third in the boys section of the meet in 2005.

Sixteen places will be scored with places 1-8 receiving medals and 9-16 receiving ribbons. Trophies also will be given out for girls and boys individual and team high point scorers.

There is no admission fee.