Courtesy: Florida International Athletics
MIAMI – After a stellar opening weekend to the season, FIU’s Maha Gouda and Lamija Medosevic were named Conference USA Athletes of the Week, the league office announced on Wednesday.
The Panthers split the opening weekend against a pair of Power 5 opponents, after dropping a meet to No. 1 Florida 194-101 on Thursday before downing Miami 169-131 on Saturday.
A REALLY GOUDA DIVER
For sophomore Maha Gouda, the first weekend picked up where it left off from her All-American campaign last season. Gouda punched her ticket for the big dance from the one and three-meter springboard events, as she qualified for the NCAA Zone competition that will take place in March. Against the Gators, Gouda won from the 3-meter springboard event posting a score of 297.23 and later picked up second-place from the 1-meter event with a score of 297.23. Against the Hurricanes, the sophomore placed second from the 1-meter (289.95) and fifth from the 3-meter (249.60).
THE FRESHMAN SENSATION
In her debut with FIU, freshman Lamija Medosevic has already begun turning heads. Against UF on Thursday, Medosevic captured three top-five finishes. She placed second in the 200 freestyle with a time 1:51.19, third in the 50 freestyle when she touched at 24.04 and third in the 100 freestyle with a 51.58 swim. She led off the 200 free relay with a time of 23.93, which ended in second place (1:36.38). Against Miami, Medosevic won all three of her events.
Medosevic’s 50 free time of 23.77 ranks as the No.1 time in the conference and 14th in the NCAA. She set the bar for best time for a freshman at a dual meet in a pair of events, clocking in at 51.50 in the 100 freestyle while earning 1:51.05 in the 200 freestyle. Her time for the 100 freestyle ranks first in the conference and 12th in the nation, while her time for the 200 freestyle also ranks first in the league and fifth in the country. Additionally, Medosevic led the 400 free relay team for FIU, which won with a time of 3:27.97 against the Hurricanes. The 100 free split time of 51.19 is a new best for the freshman standout.
UP NEXT
The Panthers are back in action next weekend on Oct. 4-5 when they host TCU, LSU, FAU, Army, Pittsburgh, ODU, GW, Grand Canyon and Keiser at the TYR Classic.