COLUMBIA, Mo. – The FIU swimming & diving program capped a strong week at the Mizzou Invite with a second-place team finish, closing out the three-day meet at the Mizzou Aquatic Center with 1,446 points.
 
The Panthers finished ahead of Division I programs TCU, Wyoming, and Southern Illinois, marking their highest placement at the event after taking third in the 2023 midseason meet.
 
FIU recorded 11 top-five finishes throughout the week and set two program records — freshman Pauline Zeller's 100 fly (52.65) and the 200-medley relay squad of Oumy Diop, Diana Santamaria, and Frida Stretre Løbersli, which posted a new Panther-best 1:36.47.
 
Senior Nicole Frank delivered three standout individual performances, securing runner-up in the 400 IM with a B-cut time of 4:12.85, placing third in the 200 breast (2:12.87, B-cut), and finishing third in the 200 IM (2:02.09).
 
In the 100 breast, Stretre Løbersli earned second with a B-cut standard of 59.60, while Santamaria added a B-cut mark of 54.13 in the 100 back. Senior Ingrid Huszar also impressed in the 200 breast, finishing fourth (2:13.55).
 
Freshman Claudia Frasca took fourth in the 200 back (1:57.94), while Lutnya Bogdanova placed fifth in the 100 fly (54.31) and Tawannah McLemore secured sixth in the 50 free (22.84).
 
FIU shined in relay competition, earning second in the 200 free relay with Olivia Matson, McLemore, Santamaria, and Zeller clocking 1:30.84. The 400-medley relay team of Ana Luiza Daisson, Santamaria, Stretre Løbersli, and Zeller finished in 3:36.61, while the 400 free relay group of Diop, Daisson, Santamaria, and Zeller produced a 3:18.56.

The Panthers added a fourth-place swim in the 800 free relay (7:26.77) behind Diop, Frank, Daisson, and Zeller.
 
In diving, senior Ruska Lehtonen earned a zone cut on 1-meter with a score of 270.70, while freshman Sofia Torstensson posted a personal best (244.00) for eighth.

On 3-meter, sophomore Brooke Megdall advanced to finals, placing seventh (254.00). Lehtonen added a fifth-place finish on platform (211.45), with Kristina Keenan also securing a finals appearance.
 
FIU also finished second in the team diving event, as the trio of Keenan, Lehtonen, and Megdall combined for 308.50 points.

FINAL SCORES
1) Mizzou - 1,726
2) FIU - 1,446
3) TCU - 1,248
4) Wyoming - 1,112
5) SIU - 740
6) McKendree - 456

UP NEXT
FIU prepares for the CSCAA Open Water National Championships on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 10 a.m. in Sarasota, Fla.

BAPTIST HEALTH
Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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