CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The FIU swimming and diving program opened up the meet season Wednesday afternoon, falling to the Miami Hurricanes in a crosstown clash, 216-81.
 
Overall, FIU secured 11 top-three finishes as the  relay team of Oumy Diop, Frida Stretre Lobersii, Diana Santamaria, and Jessica Shpilko claimed second place in the 200-medley relay with a time of 1:42.56. In the 400-free relay, Diop, Ana Luiza Daisson, Tawnnah McLemore, and Santamaria finished strong in third place, clocking in at 3:30.67.
 
Junior Nicole Frank put forth an exceptional effort, earning two top-three finishes. Frank finished second in the 200-breast with a time of 2:20.34 and took third in the 200 IM with a 2:06.28. She also placed fifth in the 200-free, completing the race in 1:55.64.
 
Freshman Tawnnah McLemore had an impressive debut, capturing third place in both the 50-free (23.74) and 100-fly (56.70). Junior Gabrielle Puryear-Lynch secured third place in both the 200-fly (2:12.13) and the 500-yard free (5:16.70).
 
Another freshman standout, Sally Olsson, achieved three top-four finishes. She placed third in the 200-breast (2:22.31), while also claiming fourth in the 100-breast (1:05.20) and the 200-IM (2:15.57).
 
Diana Santamaria contributed with fourth-place finishes in the 100-back (57.96) and 100-free (52.65). Distance swimmer Sophire Kiryk also had a strong showing, placing fourth in both the 1000-free (10:45.76) and the 500-free (5:18.57).
 
In sprint events, Jessica Shpilko delivered a second-place finish in the 50-free (23.29), while freshman Frida Stretre Lobersii took third in the 100-breast (1:03.60).
 
On the diving side, graduate student Av Osero placed second in the 3-meter event with a score of 277.43. Sophomore Kristina Keenan followed closely with a third-place finish (253.20), and junior Ruska Lehtonen claimed fourth (236.10).
 
Freshman Brooke Megdall made her 1-meter debut with a third-place score of 242.60, just ahead of Osero's fourth-place finish (240.68). Keenan rounded out the top five with a score of 238.20.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers open the home slate beginning Friday, Oct. 4 in the TYR Fall Classic at 4 p.m. and wraps up on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. from the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Center.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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