Florida International swept its way to a seventh straight Conference USA Championships title, outdueling Rice down the stretch. The Panthers won all five relays and earned the Swimmer of the Meet Award via sophomore Jasmine Nocentini.
Conference USA Championships Team Standings
- FIU 956.5
- Rice 905.5
- North Texas 468
- Florida Atlantic 425
- Marshall 416
- Old Dominion 237
Nocentini overcame a false-start disqualification in the 50 freestyle, in which she was the top seed in finals by .65 seconds, to win the 100 and 200 freestyle, the latter in a school record and NCAA B cut. She also was part of four winning relays, as was Kelsie Campbell.
“The team was amazing this week,” head coach Randy Horner said in a team release. “The perseverance that they had during the meet with overcoming three disqualifications was phenomenal. Overcoming the [COVID-19] obstacles throughout the season and then putting things together the way they did this weekend, having so many lifetime bests and performing the way they did, I think is the single greatest accomplishment I’ve been a part of as a coach, and for sure at FIU. Winning number seven is mind blowing to think about, and we’re excited to go for number eight now.”
Campbell was second in the 400 individual medley and third in the 500 free. Julia Miranda was also part of three victorious relays to go with three individual podium finishes – second in the 100 butterfly, second in the 200 backstroke and third in the 100 back.
FIU netted significant points from Delaine Goll (first in the 100 breaststroke, second in the 200 breast) and Stephanie Hussey (first in the 400 individual medley, second in the 500 free, third in the 200 fly).
FIU also produced the Diver of the meet for a third straight year. For the second time, that was Maha Gouda, the junior winning gold in all three events. Second in the two springboard events was teammate Maddy Song, while Florida Atlantic’s Alicia Mora Herencia was third in all three events.
Rice stayed in the hunt thanks to Ellery Parish, who won the 500 free and 1,650. Madison Howe was first in the 100 fly and third in the 50.
Marshall’s Darby Coles took advantage of Nocentini’s DQ to win the 50 free. She was also second in the 100 free.