MIAMI –  FIU's swimming and diving program opened its season with a strong showing at the TYR Fall Classic, finishing second overall at the Doral Aquatic Center for a total of 1,060.5 points.
 
The Panthers recorded two first-place finishes and 14 top-five finishes across the two-day meet, highlighted by victories in the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard butterfly.
 
Timea Urogi led the Panthers with a first-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly, touching in 2:03.97. She also placed second in the 400-yard IM with a time of 4:26.64, giving her two individual top-two finishes on the weekend.
 
FIU opened the meet with a second-place finish in the 400-yard medley relay, as Diana Santamaria, Frida Stretre Løbersli, Mercyann Najera and Maria Alvestad combined to finish in 3:46.30.
 
Santamaria added a third-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle at 23.42 and a fifth-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle at 52.34. She also contributed to the Panthers' relay success, swimming on the second-place 400-yard medley relay, first-place 200-yard medley relay and second-place 400-yard freestyle relay.
 
Najera helped FIU capture the 200-yard medley relay in 1:42.40 alongside Stretre Løbersli, Santamaria and Alvestad. Individually, she placed third in the 100-yard butterfly in 57.33 and fourth in the 200-yard IM in 2:09.18.
 
Stretre Løbersli placed third in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:04.52 and also helped the Panthers finish second in the 400-yard medley relay.
 
Alvestad contributed to both of FIU's top relay finishes, swimming on the first-place 200-yard medley relay and second-place 400-yard freestyle relay. She also placed 10th in the 200-yard IM with a time of 2:08.20.
 
The Panthers' 200-yard freestyle relay team of Helene Gonzalez, Santamaria, Amiah Sparks and Olivia Matson finished second in 1:34.55, while the 400-yard freestyle relay team placed second in 3:26.98.
 
Carla Mailharrou added a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke, touching in 2:05.68.
 
On the diving side, Kristina Keenan placed second on the 3-meter board with a score of 270.00, while Dhavgely Mendoza earned an NCAA Zone Diving Cut in the 3-meter event (283.35) with her performance. Mendoza went on to finish second in the 1-meter (246.35) and Keenan placed first in the B-Final (252.50).

Overall Scores
1). ECU – 1,174
2). FIU - 1,060.5
3). FAU – 1,047
4). Tulane – 1,018.5
5). FGCU – 984
6). Keiser – 854
7). STU - 727

Up Next
FIU prepares for the Dual-A-Pool-Ooza on Friday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. from University of Miami and Saturday, Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. and at 3 p.m. at the Doral Aquatic Center. Liberty, Miami, Vanderbilt will compete alongside FIU in the competition.
 
Baptist Health
Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics
 
Social Media
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUMSwimDive), Twitter (@FIUSwimDive), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSwimmingAndDiving) for all the latest Swimming and Diving news.
 
General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.