MESA, Ariz. – Northern Arizona swimming & diving sophomore Urte Kazakeviciute and freshman Alina Staffeldt competed as unattached competitors at last week's Arena Pro Swim Series Mesa at the Skyline Aquatic Center. The pair faced fierce competition in the star-studded four-day event which included a number of Olympic medalists from in the United States as well as overseas.

"I thought that their Thursday events (the 100 strokes) were pretty good considering what we've been doing in training in a short period of prep time since spring break," said head coach Andy Johns. "Their 200's weren't as good but that was understandable. They got second swims and that's invaluable experience for them and for them to be in that type of environment is great because it sets them up for the summer."

Kazakeviciute competed in the two breaststroke events while Staffeldt competed in the two butterfly events qualifying for the Arena Pro Swim Series meet with times they posted at the WAC Championships in February.

The NAU pair was faced with swimming on a long-course meters pool as opposed to the short-course yards pool they're accustomed to at the meet but handled the change well. Long-course meters pools are utilized at the Olympic and World Championship levels.

Staffeldt, the new school record holder and reigning WAC Champion in the 100 yard butterfly, qualified for the C final in the 100m fly finishing 24th overall with a finals time of 1:03.89 on Thursday. The following day, she clocked in at a time of 2:22.84 in the 200m fly preliminaries.

Meanwhile, Kazakeviciute finished 20th overall, also in the C final, in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:13.84 in her first of two races on Thursday. In the 200m breaststroke last Friday, Kazakeviciute managed to snag the last spot – 16th in prelims – in the B final after posting a morning time of 2:39.53.

"The biggest difference (in the courses) is the lack of turns," Johns said. "In a 100 short course, you have three turns but in a long course you have one. In the 200, it's seven turns versus three turns. Turns can make up for a lot in a short course but in long course swimming, you have to be ready. There's no hiding fitness level or technique but it was good for Urte and Alina to swim on a different course because the Olympics and most World Championships are held on."

Kazakeviciute, a native of Kaunas, Lithuania, and Staffeldt of Hannover, Germany will both compete this summer at select meets in their home country after having swam at the Arena Pro Swim Series meet in Mesa last week.