Towson Swimming and Diving Breaks Records, Earns Two Second-Place Finishes at Thomas Murphy Invitational
By Brian Hradsky
Final Results: Towson Women — Second Place (2,588 Points) | Towson Men — Second Place (2,486.5 Points)
BALTIMORE — Towson University’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs completed an impressive weekend at the 2026 Thomas Murphy Invitational, with both teams finishing second in the four-school competition hosted by Loyola University Maryland. The three-day event concluded Sunday, October 25, at the Mangione Aquatic Center, where the Tigers continued their record-breaking performances with outstanding individual victories. Christian Davidson reset his own meet record in the men’s 1,650-yard freestyle, while Jed Garner broke his own pool record in the men’s 200-yard breaststroke. Senior Addie Scott also earned a share of Female Swimmer of the Meet honors after an exceptional weekend that included record-setting performances.
The Tigers competed against Loyola Maryland, UMBC and Mount St. Mary’s in a competitive field featuring several of the region’s strongest swimming and diving programs. Loyola captured both team championships, finishing with 3,467.5 points in the women’s standings and 3,607 points in the men’s competition. Towson’s women accumulated 2,588 points, while the men finished with 2,486.5 points to secure second place in both divisions. The Tigers finished ahead of UMBC and Mount St. Mary’s in each competition, demonstrating the program’s depth across multiple events.
Christian Davidson Breaks His Own Meet Record
Davidson delivered one of Towson’s most impressive performances Sunday, winning the men’s 1,650-yard freestyle in 15 minutes, 32.73 seconds. His time shattered his previous Thomas Murphy Invitational record from 2025 and gave the Tigers an important victory in the distance event. Davidson finished nearly 17 seconds ahead of the next competitor, establishing a commanding margin in a race that demands both endurance and consistent pacing. The result highlighted his development as one of Towson’s most dependable distance swimmers.
Davidson’s performance carried additional significance because he was improving upon a standard he had already established the previous season. Breaking a personal meet record requires continued improvement in conditioning, technique and race strategy, particularly in an event as demanding as the 1,650 freestyle. His decisive victory also demonstrated Towson’s ability to compete successfully against strong regional opposition. The performance provided one of the major highlights of the invitational’s final day.
Jed Garner Establishes Another Pool Record
Senior Jed Garner continued his outstanding season by winning the men’s 200-yard breaststroke in 1:56.19, breaking the Mangione Aquatic Center record he established at the 2025 Thomas Murphy Invitational. Garner led a remarkable Towson sweep of the event’s top three positions, with Harry Herrera finishing second and Geoffrey Cradock placing third. The Tigers’ dominance in the race represented one of their strongest collective performances of the weekend. Garner’s record-breaking swim also reinforced his standing among the top breaststroke competitors in the Coastal Athletic Association.
Garner had already won the 100-yard breaststroke Saturday with a time of 53.39 seconds, giving him victories in both breaststroke distances during the invitational. His 100 breaststroke performance ranked first in the CAA and 44th nationally at the time of the conference’s October 27 weekly awards announcement. His 200 breaststroke time also led the conference and ranked 32nd nationally. Those performances earned Garner a share of the CAA Men’s Swimmer of the Week award.
The Towson senior’s weekend demonstrated his versatility and consistency across the breaststroke events. His ability to deliver winning performances in both distances provides the Tigers with a valuable advantage in dual meets and championship competitions. The sweep of the 200 breaststroke podium also highlighted the contributions of Herrera and Cradock, showing that Towson possesses considerable depth in the event. With conference championship competition still ahead, the Tigers have reason to be encouraged by their breaststroke results.
Addie Scott Earns Female Swimmer of the Meet Recognition
Senior Addie Scott produced one of the most impressive all-around performances of the invitational, earning a share of Female Swimmer of the Meet honors alongside Loyola’s Haley Robinson. Scott won two individual events and contributed to two winning relays while establishing a new pool record in the women’s 200-yard freestyle. Her time of 1:47.18 broke a Mangione Aquatic Center standard previously held by future Olympic medalist Katie Hoff. The achievement represented a significant milestone for Scott and the Towson women’s swimming program.
Scott also won the women’s 500-yard freestyle in 4:51.76, which ranked as the fastest time in the CAA at the time of the conference’s October 27 awards announcement. Her ability to excel in both the 200 and 500 freestyle demonstrated an impressive combination of speed and endurance. She added a second-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke Sunday, touching the wall in 2:02.14. Those performances helped Towson remain competitive across several of the invitational’s most demanding swimming events.
Her contributions extended into the relay events, where she helped Towson produce another record-breaking performance. Scott joined Bjartey Gudmundsdottir, Ryland Zuniga and Emelia Erikson to win the women’s 200-yard freestyle relay in 1:32.06. The quartet established both meet and pool records with the victory, providing another memorable achievement for the Tigers. Scott also contributed to Towson’s winning 800-yard freestyle relay, completing an outstanding weekend of individual and team accomplishments.
Kaitlyn Besner Wins Women’s Distance Freestyle
Kaitlyn Besner added another victory for Towson during Sunday’s final session, winning the women’s 1,650-yard freestyle in 17:17.16. Besner finished approximately five and a half seconds ahead of the runner-up, securing a valuable first-place result for the Tigers. Her performance completed a Towson sweep of the men’s and women’s 1,650 freestyle events, following Davidson’s victory in the men’s race. The two wins demonstrated the program’s strength in distance swimming.
Distance freestyle events require swimmers to maintain consistent technique and pacing across lengthy races. Besner’s ability to separate herself from the field highlighted her preparation and competitive endurance. Her victory also contributed important points toward Towson’s second-place team finish. Combined with Davidson’s record-setting performance, the Tigers’ results in the 1,650 freestyle stood among the weekend’s most impressive achievements.
Women’s Team Shows Depth Across Multiple Events
Towson’s women demonstrated considerable depth during Sunday’s competition, particularly in the 200-yard backstroke. Five Tigers qualified for the A-final, led by Scott’s second-place finish in 2:02.14. Ava McKinney placed sixth, Daphne Mead finished seventh, Emily Thornett took eighth and Dylan Gustaff finished ninth. Having five swimmers in the championship final illustrated Towson’s strength across the event.
The Tigers also produced an impressive showing in the women’s 100-yard freestyle, placing three swimmers among the top four finishers. Gudmundsdottir led Towson with a second-place result, while Zuniga finished third and Erikson placed fourth. The performance demonstrated the effectiveness of Towson’s sprint freestyle group, which had already combined for a record-breaking relay victory. Their individual results provided additional points and helped the Tigers maintain second place in the team standings.
Maisie Brown added another runner-up finish in the women’s 200-yard breaststroke, with Mead placing fourth in the same championship final. Masha Netrebko finished second in the women’s 200-yard butterfly, while Martina Innamorato placed fourth, Megan Unruh fifth and Lucy Nicholson eighth. The Tigers’ ability to place multiple swimmers in championship finals contributed significantly to their overall point total. Towson’s balanced results showed that its success extended well beyond its individual event winners.
Men’s Team Produces Strong Championship Finals
Towson’s men’s team also delivered several notable performances during the final day of competition. Bill McMinn finished second in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:47.38, while Nathan Decker placed fifth and Elliot Elmore finished ninth. Isak Brkanovic tied for third in the 100-yard freestyle, recording a time of 44.66 seconds. The results provided additional points as the Tigers worked to maintain their second-place standing.
Brandon Richter finished second in the men’s 200-yard butterfly, with Anthony Mortellite placing third to give Towson two podium finishes in the event. Benjamin Eischeid also qualified for the championship final and finished sixth. The performances complemented Garner’s victory and the Tigers’ sweep of the 200 breaststroke podium. Towson’s ability to place multiple swimmers near the top of several events demonstrated its competitive depth.
Diving Teams Contribute to Towson’s Success
Towson’s diving program also contributed to the Tigers’ overall results during the three-day competition. Grady Gardner qualified for the men’s 3-meter diving A-final Sunday and finished seventh. His appearance in the championship final added another competitive result for the men’s team. The Tigers continued gaining valuable experience against regional opponents throughout the weekend.
On the women’s side, Lara Booth Alam, Liliana Bermudez and Marin Ford qualified for the 1-meter diving championship final. Booth Alam finished sixth, Bermudez placed seventh and Ford took eighth. The three finalists provided Towson with additional representation in the scoring positions. Their performances helped support the women’s second-place team finish.
Loyola Captures Both Team Championships
Host Loyola Maryland finished first in both team competitions, using strong performances throughout the three-day invitational to establish comfortable advantages. The Greyhounds won 23 of the meet’s 40 events, demonstrating their strength across the swimming and diving program. Loyola’s men finished with 3,607 points, followed by Towson with 2,486.5, UMBC with 2,266.5 and Mount St. Mary’s with 603. The women’s standings followed the same order, with Loyola collecting 3,467.5 points, Towson 2,588, UMBC 2,252.5 and Mount St. Mary’s 659.
Loyola’s Luke Dwyer produced one of the weekend’s most notable performances by winning the men’s 200-yard butterfly in 1:45.09. His time broke a Mangione Aquatic Center record established by Michael Phelps in December 2001, highlighting the caliber of swimming displayed during the invitational. Loyola also received strong performances from Joe Hayburn, who established multiple records during the weekend. The Greyhounds’ success provided a challenging competitive environment for Towson and the other participating programs.
What the Results Mean for Towson
Finishing second in both team competitions represents an encouraging result for Towson as the program continues preparing for the remainder of its season. The Tigers demonstrated that they possess athletes capable of winning individual events, setting records and competing against strong regional opposition. Their performances were particularly impressive in distance freestyle, breaststroke and women’s freestyle events. The ability to place multiple swimmers in championship finals also illustrated the depth needed for success in conference championship competition.
The record-breaking performances by Davidson, Garner and Scott provide individual milestones that the program can build upon during the coming months. Davidson and Garner improved upon records they had established in 2025, demonstrating measurable progress from one season to the next. Scott’s record-breaking 200 freestyle and her contribution to the 200 freestyle relay highlighted the women’s team’s continued development. Those achievements give Towson several positive results to carry into its upcoming competitions.
MSB Take: Towson’s Record Breakers Provide a Strong Foundation
Towson’s second-place finishes should be viewed as positive results, particularly considering the number of record-breaking performances the Tigers produced. Davidson and Garner delivered exceptional individual swims, while Scott demonstrated the versatility that makes her one of the program’s most valuable competitors. The Tigers also showed impressive depth, with several events featuring multiple Towson swimmers in championship finals. That combination of elite individual talent and consistent team scoring will be important as the season progresses.
Garner’s dominance in the breaststroke events stands out as one of the biggest positives from the weekend. His record-breaking 200 breaststroke victory, combined with Towson’s sweep of the podium, gives the Tigers a strong group in an event that can produce valuable championship points. Scott’s record-setting performances and conference-leading times provide similar optimism for the women’s program. Davidson’s convincing distance freestyle victory adds another important piece to Towson’s competitive lineup.
The biggest challenge for Towson will be translating these individual successes into stronger overall team performances against top conference competition. Loyola demonstrated the value of depth and consistent scoring by winning both team titles despite several outstanding Towson performances. The Tigers have shown they possess the talent to compete at a high level, but continued development across all events will be essential. The Thomas Murphy Invitational provided an encouraging indication of where the program stands and what it can accomplish during the remainder of the season.
What’s Next for Towson?
Towson’s divers will return to competition Saturday, November 7, at the UMBC Diving Invitational. The meet will provide another opportunity for the Tigers’ diving contingent to build on its experience from the Thomas Murphy Invitational. The swimming and diving programs will continue working toward their remaining regular-season competitions and eventual conference championship meets. With several records already falling early in the season, Towson has established a strong foundation for continued improvement.
