MIAMI (Nov. 4, 2022) – Swimming and Diving hosted Illinois in the first day of a dual meet, Friday afternoon, and built a 117.5-106.5 lead after strong performance by both the swimmers and the divers.
 
Sophomore Christie Chue led a complete team performance in the pool as she won both breaststroke races and set a new pool record in the 200-Breast with a 2:14.68.
 
Lead by two-time Olympian Maha Gouda, the Panthers' dive team earned a crucial 16 points for FIU after taking first through fourth place in the 10-meter platform competition.
 
FIU would also win three other individual races on the day, all by different swimmers. The Panthers' relay teams were dominant, winning all three races, including a dramatic millisecond finish in the final race of the day.
 
The divers got the day started with Gouda placing first, freshman Ruska Lehtonen finished second, Serena Buchwald placing third and Alexa Hernandez rounding out the top four. This marked the second time FIU has swept the 10-Meter platform dive in as many tries.

At the first break of the day, the Panthers were leading Illinois, 47-46.
 
The team of Kelsie Campbell, Chue, Kasia Kolodziej and Jessica Shpilko took the top spot in the 200-medley relay with a 1:43.33. Chue also won the 50-breast with a 29.10.
 
With 10 events in the books the score remained close with FIU leading, 95.5-92.5, after picking up three more wins.
 
Chue placed first with a record-setting 2:14.68 in the 200-breast. Harliai Curthoys-Davies earned her first win of the day with a 1:50.60 in the 200-free and Kolodziej earning first in the 50-fly with a 25.50.
 
The Panthers would close the first day of competition out with wins in the final two events.
 
Nicole Frank won the 200-individual medley (2:04.32) with a last second push, beating out Illinois' Sara Jass by 0:00.55
 
In the final race, the team of Curthoys-Davies, Shpilko, Ana Daisson and Kolodziej picked up 11 points with a first-place finish in the 400-free relay (3:29.34), beating out Illinois' best time by 0:00.52.
 
UP NEXT
FIU and Illinois face off again Saturday, November 5 starting at 10 a.m. ET at the FIU Aquatic Center at the Biscayne Bay Campus.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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