DALLAS, Texas – The FIU swimming & diving program is set to compete in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championship from Wednesday, Feb. 19, through Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium on the campus of SMU.

All four days of competition will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Wednesday, February 19
Finals Only - 6 p.m. ET | ESPN+
200-yard Medley Relay
Team Diving Event
800-yard Freestyle Relay

Thursday, February 20
Swimming Prelims - 11:30 a.m. ET | Diving Prelims - 12:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+
Diving Consols - 6:10 p.m.  ET | Finals - 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+
500-yard Freestyle
200-yard Individual Medley
50-yard Freestyle
1-meter Diving
200-yard Freestyle Relay (Final only)

Friday, February 21
Swimming Prelims - 11:30 a.m. ET | Diving Prelims - 12:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+
Diving Consols - 6:10 p.m. ET | Finals - 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+
400-yard Individual Medley
100-yard Butterfly
200-yard Freestyle
100-yard Breaststroke
100-yard Backstroke
3-meter Diving
400-yard Medley Relay (Final only)

Saturday, February 22
Swimming Prelims - 11:30 a.m. ET | Diving Prelims - 12:30 p.m. ET | ESPN+
Finals - 6 p.m. ET | ESPN+
1,650-yard Freestyle (Finals only)
200-yard Backstroke
100-yard Freestyle
200-yard Breaststroke
200-yard Butterfly
Platform Diving
400-yard Freestyle Relay (Final only)

The Panthers enter the championship as the defending AAC champions after a dominant performance last season, securing the title with an impressive 778 points. FIU led the conference with 18 total medals, including seven golds—the most of any team in the championship.

Among last year's highlights, the Panthers set records in the 200 IM, 1-meter dive, and 200-breaststroke. Standout swimmer Christie Chue was named AAC Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Meet after capturing five gold medals, while head coach Randy Horner and diving coach Josh Larcom earned coaching honors.

In this year's pre-championship poll, as voted on by AAC head coaches, FIU is projected to finish second with 22 points and two first-place votes—just two points behind Rice, the projected favorite.

FIU wrapped up its dual-meet schedule with three victories, including a 167-132 win over AAC rival Florida Atlantic. The Panthers also claimed wins at the TYR Fall Classic, FIU Sprint Invite, and matchups against Nova Southeastern and Lynn. Throughout the season, FIU athletes earned seven AAC weekly honors, including six freshman awards for Swimmer and Diver of the Week.

FIU will compete in 22 events at the AAC Championship, with strong representation across multiple categories. The Panthers have 44 times or scores ranked in the top 15 in the conference, including 13 that are in the top three.

Junior Nicole Frank leads the team with three top-five times. She holds the fastest marks in the AAC for the 200-breaststroke (2:11.62) and 200-IM (1:59.52) and ranks fifth in the 400-IM (4:18.17).

Diana Santamaria has recorded top-three times in the 50-free (22.82) and 100-back (54.82). Sally Olsson also ranks among the best in the conference with top-five times in the 200-breast (2:12.31) and 100-breast (1:01.98).
 
In the 100-breaststroke, FIU features two of the top three swimmers in the AAC. Frida Stretre Løbersli ranks second with a time of 1:01.12, while Emma Becker is third at 1:01.58. Freshman Claudia Frasca has posted a top-four time in the 200-back (1:58.79).

The Panthers also boast some of the strongest relay teams in the conference. FIU ranks in the top three in four of the five relay events scheduled for the championship. The team of Oumy Diop, Santamaria, Jessica Shpilko, and Stretre Løbersli holds the fastest time in the 200-medley relay (1:37.55). Meanwhile, the group of Diop, Tawannah McLemore, Santamaria, and Shpilko owns the top time in the 200-free relay (1:30.31).

On the diving side, graduate student Av Osero holds the second-highest score in the conference in the 1-meter event (310.73) and the third-highest score in the 3-meter (305.18). Five-time AAC Freshman of the Week Brooke Megdall ranks third in the platform dive with a score of 242.60.

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