COCKEYSVILLE, Md. ­– Nathan Galloway took over the lead in the final 1,000 meters of the men's race at the 2019 Towson Invitational on Friday, and the sophomore kicked his way to the victory to open the season for the Loyola University Maryland cross country team.
 
Kayleigh Caggiano was third overall on the women's side as the Loyola men took second in the meet and the women were fourth.
 
Galloway led midway through the race before sliding back to third. He then overtook a pair of runners from Lafayette and sprinted down the final 400 meters to secure the victory. Galloway covered the 6,000-meter course in 16:26.1, besting the Leopards' Brian Clayton by three seconds.
 
His win is the first by a Loyola cross country runner since Kiera Harrison won the women's race at the 2013 Lafayette Invitational.
 
Brandon Rossi also had a top-10 finish for the Greyhounds, taking ninth in 17:15.4 with Jake Fowler not far behind in 13^th-place (17:20.9). John Schuerger and Conor Rebele finished 19^th and 20^th, crossing the finish line in 17:59.4 and 18:07.8, respectively, to round out the Greyhounds' scoring.
 
Patrick Cropsey finished 21^st (18;12.5), and Sam Miller was 23^rd (18:30.6), while Alex Schueller (25^th, 19:08.0), Charlie Dillon (26^th, 19:17.8) and Spencer Askine (27^th, 19:45.6) finished in a tight group.
 
In the women's race that started the afternoon at Oregon Ridge Park, Caggiano edged Delaware's Michaela Meyer at the finish line by one-tenth of a second to take third in 15:47.3.
 
Mary Sutton led a group of four Greyhounds that finished 20^th through 23^rd, running 16:24.2. Kelly Williamson was a spot behind in 21^st at 16:28.8, and she was followed by Grayce Heinemann (22^nd, 16:31.7) and Abby Potticary (23^rd, 16:32.1).
 
Audrey O'Neill and Kate Ragone were 25^th (16:55.6) and 27^th (17:24.8), while Sydney Votruba took 35^th in 17:58.8. Julia Vledder (37^th, 18:13.5), Caite O'Hehir (40^th, 18:41.7), Chloe Sobchak (44^th, 19:21.3), Hope Pinsonault (45^th, 19:31.0) and Marissa Branham (46^th, 20:22.8) rouned out the Loyola contingent.
 
The Greyhounds will continue training before their next race, the Iona Meet of Champions on Friday, September 20, in The Bronx.