The FIU swimming and diving team capped off its 2013-14 home slate with a 146-90 victory over Central Connecticut State on Senior Day, Saturday afternoon. FIU swept the meet, winning all 13 events.
“Today was more about the seniors, coming out and letting them race,” said Head Coach Randy Horner. “We got to swim some people in events that they usually don’t get to swim. After a week of being back to classes, it’s good getting back to our normal schedule. We thought they raced hard and they had some pretty good times out there in certain events, some others were off. But I feel like we are where we need to be and we have a big one next week against FGCU. That’s a good team we like to swim against and a great measuring stick for our girls.”
Senior Sabrina Beaupre capped off her home career by winning both events, including setting the program and pool record in the 1-meter dive. The Quebec native put up a score of 335.85 in the event, besting her previous school record of 323.85 on Dec. 1, 2011. Her 1-meter dive in the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Center well tops a 326 score set by Miami’s Carrie Dragland. Beaupre also took the 3-meter diving title by earning a mark 330.67. Her freshman teammate Lily Kaufman put up a personal best mark in the 1-meter dive, earning a score of 300.45.
FIU won both the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relay events. In the medley relay, freshman Jennifer Alfani, junior Klara Andersson, senior Valeriia Popova and freshman Jennifer Deist earned a mark of 1:47.89 to earn 11 points for FIU. Popova, along with seniors Sonia Perez, Mary Boucher and Sarah D’Antoni earned the 200 freestyle relay win with a time of 1:42.
Perez capped off her last senior home meet with a win in the 1000 freestyle, posting a time of 10:37.55. Her junior teammate Danielle Meara earned a time of 10:46.56 to finish third in the event. Meara’s success in the distance continued, as she earned the 500 freestyle title as well, clocking in at 5:12.69.
Another senior winning their event was D’Antoni in the 100 butterfly, as she finished with a mark of 59 seconds. Junior Nadia Farrugia, Andersson and Deist had a 1-2-3 finish in the 200 freestyle, while junior Courtney VanderSchaaf and Popova had a 1-3 finish in the 50 freestyle. VanderSchaaf was also a first place finisher in the 100 freestyle.
Junior Johanna Gustafsdottir earned the 200 IM title, with junior Jean Madison finishing right behind her. Madison also posted a mark of 1:07.39 in the 100 breaststroke to earn first place in that event. Alfani took the 100 backstroke title with a mark of 58.73 seconds.
The Panthers next travel to Florida Gulf Coast on Jan. 25 to take on the Eagles in an 11 a.m. matchup.
