Florida International Swimming & Diving Defeats Crosstown Rival Miami

julia-miranda
Photo Courtesy: Florida International Athletics

The Florida International swimming and diving team earned its first dual-meet win of the season on Friday, as the Panthers knocked off the Miami Hurricanes on the road in Coral Gables by a final tally of 159.5-137.5.

The win over Miami marks FIU’s third-straight dual meet victory over cross-town rival Miami, and the fourth win in the last five dual appearances dating back to Sept. 30, 2017, solidifying FIU’s standing as the best swimming and diving program in the 305.

“It’s crazy to have our first dual meet of the season in January,” said head coach Randy Horner. “Half of our team raced today for the first time since last March. I’m very happy with the way we handled the challenge. We raced hard and competed well against a city rival and I really like where we are as we prepare for [Conference USA Championships] next month.”

The Panthers claimed 8 of 16 events on a day that FIU celebrated its Senior Day, as the Panthers honored Melannie Vargas, Rachel Foord, and Rielly McNamara before the meet.

Full Meet Results

Florida International Swimming & Diving Release

Divers Mandy Song and Maha Gouda continued their stellar campaigns in 2020-21, as they claimed first-place in the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events with scores of 332.78 and 337.80, respectively.

The group of Julia Miranda, Sara Gyertyanffy, Kelsie Campbell and Lamija Medosevic opened up the slate of swimming events with a first-place finish for FIU in the 200-yard medley relay, posting a time of 1:43.76.

The Panthers went on to claim the top-two spots in the 100-yard backstroke, as Miranda (56.37) and Michaela Trnkova (57.69) nabbed first and second in the event, respectively.

Former C-USA Co-Swimmer of the Year Jasmine Nocentini took first in two separate events for FIU, claiming the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.20, and the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 51.16.

Stephanie Hussey hustled her way to a first-place finish in the 400-yard IM, posting a time of 4:22.60 for FIU.

With the competition close down the line, the group of Nocentini, Miranda, Campbell and Medosevic finished strong in the last event of the day, posting a time of 1:33.72 in the 200-yard freestyle relay to nail down the victory for FIU.

Miami Press Release

The Miami Hurricanes honored five seniors before their final home meet of the season Friday afternoon against FIU at the Norman Whitten Pool.

Despite the 159.5-137.5 loss, the Hurricanes saw a number of standout performances in a meet against the crosstown Panthers. Prior to the matchup, swimmers Sydney Knapp, Carmen San Nicolas, Chandler Sensibaugh and Alaina Skellett, along with diver Zach Cooper, were recognized in a special ceremony on the pool deck.

The Hurricanes opened the day in strong fashion, winning the first two individual events of the afternoon.

Sophomore Adrianna Cera, building off a standout meet against FGCU on the road last week, won the 1,000-yard freestyle in a time of 10:18.45. Freshman Savannah Barr, another standout in last week’s win over the Eagles, followed Cera’s win by capturing a first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:49.32).

Two events later, it was another freshman – this time Emma Sundstrand – who touched the wall in a top time of 1:02.89 in the 100-yard breaststroke. Sophomore Isabel Traba (2:04.14) became the fourth Hurricane underclassman to pick up an early victory – this one in the 200-yard butterfly.

Knapp took second in the 50-yard freestyle (24.16) while Barr and San Nicolas took two of the top-three finishes in the 100-yard freestyle. Skellett stemmed the tide by picking up her first win of the day in her signature 200-yard backstroke (2:03.92). Sophomore Andrea Todorovic was third in the same event (2:08.14).

Sundstrand picked up her second win with a time of 2:19.46 in the 200-yard breaststroke, while Sensibaugh added points with a third-place finish (2:26.59) in her final home meet as a Hurricane.

Cera (5:00.25) added to the Hurricanes’ point total with a dominant win in the 500-yard freestyle, while Barr continued her impressive freshman year with another win – this time in the 100-yard butterfly (55.93).

Co-captain Millie Haffety took second in both the 1-meter (3:15.38) and 3-meter (329.78) as the lone Hurricane representative on the boards Friday.

Todorovic (4:30.17) was second in the 400-yard IM before FIU closed the meet by winning the 200-yard freestyle relay; Miami’s top entry, comprised of Sundstrand, San Nicolas, Barr and Knapp, was second (1:35.63).

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