KEY LARGO, Florida (Jan 4, 2020) - The FIU swim and dive team concluded their training trip to paradise with a second-place finish at the Orange Bowl Classic on Friday.
The Panthers recorded 154 points against five schools at the Jacobs Aquatic Center where they competed in 24 short course meter events.
After six days and sharing the start of 2020 in the Keys, the Panthers reflect on the days they spent together.
"It was an amazing experience," said
Paloma Sanchez, "We bonded in ways that we hadn't before and strengthened our bodies mentally and physically. "
The timing, seemingly perfect, as FIU gears up to conquer their sixth-straight Conference USA title in February. Their time in the Keys was spent jet skiing, enjoying performances at Mallory Square and learning new skills in and out of the pool.
ORANGE BOWL CLASSIC RECAP
In the pool, the Panthers picked up a second-place finish in the 200 Medley Relay. The team of
Julia Miranda,
Taylor Grabenhorst, Sara Gyetyanffy and
Lamija Medosevic touched at 1:59.15.
Stephanie Hussey followed that up with a fifth-place finish in the 400 Freestyle event with her swim of 4:28.88.
Victoria Cantu and
Rachel Whitaker chased in seventh and eighth place with times of 4:35.71 and 4:38.58, respectively.
Kasia Kolodziej and
Kelsie Campbell took third and fourth place in the 50 Butterfly event with swims of 28.71 and 28.83. Teammates
Paloma Sanchez and
Chloe Hampson tapped in at seventh and eighth place. Sanchez swam a time of 29.77 and Hampson with a time of 29.85.
During the 100 Backstroke, Miranda came in second place, touching at 1:04.62. Followed by
Michaela Trnkova in fifth place with her swim of 1:06.50 and
Melannie Vargas in sixth place (1:07.13).
FIU picked up another top-two finishes in the 50 Breaststroke after Gyertyanffy came in at 33.10. Right behind Gyertanffy, Grabenhorst tapped third best with a time of 33.39 and
Delaine Goll landed fifth (33.77).
Medosivic went on to capture third in the 100 free swimming a time of 58.38, followed by
Eriana Temperino in seventh place and a time of 59.54.
Kolodziej, Hussey and Hampson worked to capture fourth through sixth place in the 100 Butterfly. They swam times of 1:04.72, 1:04.82 and 1:05.55, respectively.
Campbell secured a second-place spot in the 50 Backstroke event after she touched at 30.40.
Emily Cordovi followed in fourth with a time of 30.69.
In the 50 Breaststroke, Goll picked up yet another second-place finish swimming a time of 1:13.24. Gyertyanffy chased fourth tapping at 1:14.79.
The 50 Free event concluded with Sanchez, Miranda and
Helga Fodor taking places sixth through eighth. Grabenhosrt swam the 200 IM and captured fourth (2:22.29) with teammates Hussey and Temperino following in fifth (2:22.35) and sixth (2:22.52).
The Orange Bowl Classic concluded with the 200 Freestyle Relay where the Panthers landed in the second (1:48.35).
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here for full results.
NEXT UP
The Panthers return back home Saturday, Jan. 4 to host 11 schools at the 2020 Spring Invite with action beginning at 10 a.m. at the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Center.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU_swim_dive's Instagram and @FIUSwimmingAndDiving on Facebook and on Twitter @FIUSwimDive. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
