BOSTON – The first annual North Atlantic Conference Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship will take place Saturday and Sunday at Northeastern University’s Barletta Natatorium here.

Five teams – Boston University, Maine, New Hampshire, Northeastern, and Vermont – will compete. One-meter diving competition begins at 9 a.m., Saturday, followed by swimming events at 2 p.m. Three-meter competition takes place at 9 a.m., Sunday, with swimming events at 2 p.m. There will be timed finals for each event, alternating women’s and men’s events.

Boston University is a strong favorite to win both the men’s and women’s competitions. The Terrier men are led by Scott Riewald in freestyle, Miguel Schmidt in backstroke, and Michael Noonan in freestyle.

For the women, Tracy Cook and Wendy Whitney are contenders in freestyle, and Lauren Curtis in individual medley.

Maine sends 1990 New England one- and three-meter diving champion Rick Keene, Aaron Rog in breaststroke and backstroke, and Brad Burnham in butterfly and freestyle. Noreen Solakoff is a top swimmer in free and IM.

Northeastern’s Dana Kozimor, 1990 New England champion on both the one- and three-meter boards, is favored in women’s diving. The Huskies also are led by Ania Nozewnik in breaststroke and IM.

On the men’s side, Dave Green is defending New England champion in the 500 free and 400 IM, and Dorian Lytle is the New England 100 breaststroke champion.

For New Hampshire, brothers Jerry Bailey (free, back) and Dan Bailey (free, fly), and Mike Dix (fly, free) are the keys. The women are paced by Shannon Doherty (back) and Meghan McCarthy (free, back).

Vermont freshman Jennifer Emerson already has set a school record in the 1000 free. Katharine Hoehl in freestyle and all-around performer Laura Morrison are top swimmers. For the men, Catamount freestylers Chris Stanton and Chris Ariyan should be contenders.