HMMT 2005 K7

Two ants, one starting at $(-1,1)$, the other at $(1,1)$, walk to the right along the parabola $y=x^{2}$ such that their midpoint moves along the line $y=1$ with constant speed 1. When the left ant first hits the line $y=\frac{1}{2}$, what is its speed?