Towson, MD. – The Lafayette cross country team started their season off in style today, with both the men and women taking home first place at the Towson Invitational. The men won with a team score of 22, while the women won with a team score of 45.
 
On the men's side, pack running was the name of the game and they did not disappoint as they finished second through fifth in the race. Leading the Leopards was sophomore Brian Clayton with a second place finish in a time of 16:29.1 in the field of 33 runners.
 
About 10 seconds after Clayton was junior Ryan Branch, finishing third in a time of 16:39.5. Just about three seconds after that was freshman Robert Oehrlein, finishing fourth in a time of 16:24.4 in his first collegiate race. A little over seven seconds behind Oehrlein was junior Michael Neeson, finishing fifth in a time of 16:54.2. Rounding out the top five for the Leopards was junior Thomas Anthony, finishing eighth in a final time of 17:11.9.
 
Setting the pace for the race was Loyola sophomore Nathan Galloway, finishing in a time of 16:26.1.
 
The women also had a big debut, winning the meet as well, and leading the charge was sophomore Autumn Sands with a fifth place finish in a time of 15:47.9 in the 57-runner field.
 
Behind Sands in her first collegiate race was freshman Rachel Hurley, finishing seventh in a time of 15:49.9. Behind Hurley were a pair of juniors in Gabrielle Galletta (9^th, 15:54.4) and Ainsley Jacobs (10^th, 15:55.0). Rounding out the top five on the women's side was another freshman in her first collegiate race, Dannah Javens, finishing 14^th in a time of 16:08.1.
 
Setting the pace for the race was Towson sophomore Olivia Janke, finishing in a time of 15:32.4.
 
The Leopards look to carry the momentum into the Lehigh Dual Meet on Saturday, September 14^th at 10:00 AM.