MIAMI (Jan. 8, 2016) – The FIU swimming and diving team (7-3) got a split result during the FIU Tri-Meet, defeating No. 44 Kansas, 150.50-148.50, and falling to No. 19 N.C. State, 160-126, on Friday afternoon from the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Center.
Sophomore
Kyna Pereira posted an overall second-place finish in the 1650 meter freestyle with a time of 16:52.70. The native of Umkomaas, South Africa, earned a victory over the Jayhawks with the meet's second-fastest time. Pereira also claimed the overall top time in the 500 meter freestyle, recording a 4:56.21. The mark was her fourth-fastest time of the season.
Sophomore
Skye Carey gave FIU another first-place finish versus KU in the 200 meter freestyle. The reigning Conference USA Swimmer of the Week recorded the third-fastest time of the meet with a 1:53.26. Carey also added an overall third-place finish in the 200 meter backstroke with a time of 2:03.84. Her performance gave FIU another first-place result against the Jayhawks.
Sophomore
Naomi Ruele added another nine points for the Panthers versus the Jayhawks with a time of 57.62 in the 100 meter backstroke. The Botswana, Africa, product registered another third-place finish overall behind a pair of N.C. State swimmers.
Sophomore
Letizia Bertelli had the fourth-best time of the day in the 100 meter freestyle, scoring a 52.66. The top time for the Panthers also bested the Jayhawks as Bertelli picked up nine points for FIU. Newcomer
Marie Lauridsen made her FIU debut on Friday, registering a 58.81 in the 100 meter butterfly. Her time gave FIU a first-place finish versus N.C. State.
In diving, sophomore
Rebecca Quesnel swept both the 1-meter and 3-meter programs, topping both N.C State and Kansas. The current C-USA Diver of the Week posted a team-best 282.05 on the 1-meter, while scoring a 280.35 on the 3-meter.
With the split, FIU moves to 7-3 in dual meets on the year and holds a 4-2 mark at home.
The Panthers will next host the FIU Relays on Saturday, Jan. 9. The event is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and will feature William Jewel College, Sacred Heart, Indianapolis, NJIT, Nebraska Wesleyan and Ripon College.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUSwimDive) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSwimmingAndDiving) for all the latest Swimming and Diving news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
#####
About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offers more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $9.8 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.
