2022 CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIPS (WOMEN)
- Wednesday, February 23-Saturday, February 26, 2022
- Liberty Natatorium, Lynchburg, VA
- Start Times: 10:30 am prelims / 6:00 pm finals (ET) – Wednesday finals at 5:00 pm
- Defending Champions: FIU (7x)
- 2021 Championship Results
- Championship Central
- Psych Sheets
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Led by a relay sweep and 13 event victories, FIU won their 8th consecutive Conference USA Championship, taking the meet with a total of 1131.5 points. Rice finished as the runner-up with 998.5 points.
Final Team Scores:
- FIU – 1131.5
- Rice – 998.5
- Marshall – 600
- North Texas – 531
- FAU – 523
- Old Dominion – 358
With their victory, the FIU Panthers extended their own Conference USA record for the most consecutive titles won in any sport, along with their record for the most consecutive championships by any athletic program in FIU history.
FIU saw their first win of the night via 5th year Julia Miranda, who took the women’s 200 backstroke in a time of 1:57.68, just out-touching Rice’s Imogen Meers (1:57.73). With her runner-up finish Meers dropped over 2.5 seconds off of her seed time. Kelsie Campbell, an FIU senior, got her hand to the wall third with a time of 1:58.80 to drop a second off of her entry time.
In another tight finish, Rice’s Maddy Howe won the women’s 100 freestyle ahead of FIU’s Elinah Phillip. Both swimmers dipped under the 50-second barrier with times of 49.63 and 49.87, respectively. Phillip’s teammate Sara Gyertyanffy touched third with a time of 50.12 to round out the podium.
Following big performances in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, FIU’s Christie Chue earned her 3rd individual victory of the weekend in the 200 breaststroke. Chue touched 2 seconds ahead of the field with a time of 2:11.14. Her teammate Delanie Goll managed to finish second in a time of 2:13.67, giving FIU a 1-2 finish. Marshall sophomore Paige Banton dropped a second from her prelims swim to come in 3rd (2:15.00).
In the 200 butterfly, Rice freshman Arielle Hayon put up a dominant performance, posting a time of 1:57.13 to win the event by 2 seconds. FIU teammates Stephanie Hussey and Mia Zahab touched 2nd and 3rd with times of 1:58.90 and 1:59.22, respectively.
On the diving boards, FIU senior Maha Gouda picked up her first victory of the weekend, scoring 254.20 points. FAU freshman Alicia Mora Hernencia finished second with a score of 244.80, closely followed by FIU’s Raquel Mason with 235.80 points.
FIU closed the weekend by winning the 400 freestyle relay by almost 2 seconds. The team of Stephanie Hussey, Elinah Phillip, Christie Chue, and Kelsie Campbell combined for a time of 3:17.52 to complete the team’s relay sweep for the meet. Rice managed to touch second in a time of 3:18.95, while North Texas came in third with a time 3:23.75.
What a fantastic competition by all teams with exciting races throughout. Tip of the cap to FIU for coming out on top again. I think it is especially notable that Rice only lost by 133 points while FIU scored 200+ diving points – meaning Rice outpointed FIU in the swimming events. I realize the sport is Swimming & Diving, and Rice does not have any divers by choice so they will always spot the other teams diving points. But losing the meet by less than the diving points scored by FIU is a noteworthy performance.
While you are correct, it should be noted that Rice can obtain more swimming points because they don’t have divers.
It should be noted that FIU (the school) subsidizes scholarships of international students so FIU (the team) can extend their scholarship limits.
Congrats FIU. Great program and Great Coaches. Randy Horner is an awesome Coach and has built this dynasty.