DALLAS, Texas – The FIU swimming & diving program delivered a strong performance on day two of the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championships, earning two podium finishes at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium on Thursday.

At the end of the night, FIU stands in fourth place with 450 points, just one point behind third-place East Carolina.

Junior Nicole Frank headlined the evening, capturing gold in the 200-yard individual medley with a personal-best time of 1:57.42, an NCAA "B" cut performance. This marks her second career medal in the event, having placed third last year with a time of 1:58.85. Frank's victory also extends FIU's dominance in the event, as the Panthers have now claimed gold in three consecutive seasons, with Christie Chue winning the previous two years.

FIU's Emma Becker also impressed in the 200 IM, securing fourth place with a personal-best time of 1:59.67.

The Panthers added a silver medal in the 200-yard freestyle relay for the second straight year. The relay squad of Oumy Diop, Tawannah McLemore, Diana Santamaria, and Jessica Shpilko clocked a time of 1:30.73, solidifying FIU's strength in the sprint events.

In the 50-yard freestyle, FIU saw two swimmers reach the A-Final, with Jessica Shpilko finishing fourth (22.86) and freshman Tawannah McLemore taking sixth (23.00). Diana Santamaria won the B-Final of the event with a swift time of 22.68.

On the diving boards, graduate student Av Osero placed fourth in the A-Final with a total score of 277.35. Meanwhile, junior Ruska Lehtonen won the B-Final (249.65), and freshman Brooke Megdall took third in the consolation final (235.10).

The 500-yard freestyle featured two Panthers in the B-Final, with Gabrielle Puryear-Lynch finishing third (4:55.32) and Harliai Curthoys-Davies placing sixth with an identical time of 5:00.54.

FULL STANDINGS AFTER DAY TWO
Rice – 523
Tulane – 502
East Carolina – 451
FIU – 451
North Texas – 431
Florida Atlantic – 292

UP NEXT
Day two begins tomorrow on Friday, Feb. 21 with prelims beginning at 11:30 a.m. from the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium and finals starting at 7 p.m.. Both will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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

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