Garner, Benzing Shine on National Stage at USA Toyota National Championships
By Brian Hradsky | Maryland Sports Blog
Towson swimming continues to make its presence felt on the national stage.
Rising senior Jed Garner and Towson alumnus and Director of Operations Brian Benzing both reached A-finals at the 2026 USA Swimming Toyota National Championships, one of the nation’s premier long-course competitions, held July 28 through Aug. 1 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center in Irvine, California.
Garner delivered one of the top performances of his career in the 200-meter breaststroke. After qualifying seventh overall in the preliminary heats with a time of 2:11.68, he improved in the championship final, touching the wall in 2:11.20 to remain seventh against an elite field that featured many of the country’s top professional and collegiate swimmers.
The rising Tiger star continued his strong week in the 100-meter breaststroke, qualifying for the B-final after swimming 1:00.99 in preliminaries. He then posted an even faster 1:00.76 to finish second in the B-final, narrowly missing another championship final appearance.
Towson alumnus Brian Benzing also enjoyed an outstanding meet. The former Tiger standout earned an A-final berth in the 50-meter breaststroke, qualifying seventh with a prelim time of 27.42 before placing seventh in the championship final with a 27.57.
Benzing added another solid swim in the 100-meter breaststroke, finishing 23rd overall in preliminaries with a time of 1:01.54 against one of the deepest national fields of the season.
The Toyota National Championships serve as one of the premier domestic meets on the USA Swimming calendar, attracting Olympians, national team members, NCAA champions, and many of the nation’s fastest age-group swimmers. Making an A-final at the event places athletes among the top eight swimmers in the United States in that event during the championship meet.
For Towson, Garner’s continued progression is another encouraging sign heading into the 2026-27 collegiate season. Already one of the Colonial Athletic Association’s premier breaststrokers, his ability to compete with the nation’s elite swimmers suggests even greater success could be ahead during his senior campaign.
Benzing’s performance also highlights the continued excellence of Towson’s swimming program, demonstrating that Tiger athletes continue to excel well beyond their collegiate careers while remaining connected to the program.
MSB Take
Towson swimming does not always receive the same attention as the university’s high-profile team sports, but performances like these deserve recognition. Reaching A-finals at the USA Toyota National Championships is a significant accomplishment against some of the fastest swimmers in America. With Garner returning for another season and Benzing continuing to represent the Tigers at the national level, Towson’s breaststroke tradition remains among the strongest in the region.
