Florida International Wins First Ever C-USA Championships

Photo Courtesy: Florida International Athletics

By Jaecey Parham, Swimming World College Intern

Florida International made school history by winning it’s very first Conference USA title last weekend at the C-USA Championships. The conference is comprised of seven teams: Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Marshall, North Texas, Old Dominion, Rice, and Western Kentucky.

Not only was the win for the Panthers the team’s first title, but it was also the school’s first conference title.

Dethroning Rice, who has won the meet three out of the last four years, the Panthers have proven themselves a force to be reckoned with. Head coach Randy Horner said this year’s team differs from past teams.

“This year we were a much more complete team with depth. We have always had some top swimmers, but this is the first time we have had every swimmer and diver contribute at a significant level,” said Coach Horner.

After the first day of competition, FIU was in third place behind Western Kentucky and Rice, who ended the meet third and second respectively. However, Coach Horner said there was a pivotal moment in the meet the next day.

“The 50 Free was a turning point in prelims on day two. That race can go many different ways depending on a start and finish,” Horner said. “We got three in finals and that was huge since it is one of Rice’s strength events.”

The 50 freestyle was a tight win, with .01 separating first and second place. Freshman Letizia Bertelli prevailed in a time of 22.94 (Bertelli swam a faster prelims time of 22.90). Sophomore Jenny Deist claimed third with a time 23.03.

Another considerable contribution to the Panthers’ success was the sweep of the 200 IM. Senior Johanna Gustafsdottir won the event by over two seconds, in a meet record-setting time of 1:57.33. The time was also an NCAA B-cut. Following Gustafsottir was freshman teammate Silvia Scalia (1:59.58) and junior Karin Tomeckova (1:59.58).

The last event of the meet was a fight between the three big powers of Conference USA. The race was neck and neck between FIU, Rice, and Western Kentucky. The Panthers’ anchor leg, Gustafsdottir (CUSA’s Swimmer of the Meet) finished in a brisk 48.48. The win for the relay sealed their championship.

Coach Horner said the team’s conference win will, hopefully, live on in seasons to come.

“There are no guarantees in sports and each year will be an new challenge. We have a very young team though, so we are optimistic of our chances next year,” said Horner.

A complete list of the Panthers’ conference champions:

200-yard IM – Johanna Gustafsdottir
50-yard freestyle – Letizia Bertelli 22.90
400-yard IM – Johanna Gustafsdottir 4:11.83
100-yard backstroke – Silvia Scalia 52.58
Platform diving – Lily Kaufmann 227.10
200-yard backstroke – Silvia Scalia 1:53.80
200-yard breaststroke – Johanna Gustafsdottir 2:12.35
400-yard freestyle relay – Silvia Scalia, Paulina Zelazna, Jenny Deist, Johanna Gustafsdottir 3:18.85

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