Cross-country team opens 2009 season Published Sept. 4, 2009 By Valerie Perkin Athletic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The Air Force cross country team opens the 2009 season today as it competes at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Rust Buster Invitational at North Monument Valley Park in downtown Colorado Springs. The meet's college events are slated to start at 5:15 p.m. for the women and 5:45 for the men. The course is located in the north section of Monument Valley Park on the East side of Interstate 25. Take the Uintah exit and go east to Cascade. Turn left and drive north on Cascade until Fontenero and go left (west). There is a gravel parking lot at the end of Fontenero for parking. The start and finish area are only a few hundred feet from the street. The Falcons' 26-man roster features just four seniors and two juniors. Despite losing much of last season's point-earners to graduation, the Falcons return all-conference selection Zach Nordahl, as well as junior Justin Tyner. In addition, the 2009 sophomore class gained valuable experience last year and will be a valued addition to this year's lineup. While the men's team is exceptionally young, the women's team benefits from not having had any seniors in 2008. Air Force didn't lose anyone on the roster and gained eight talented newcomers. The senior class of Katie Anderson, Katie Lynch, Brittany Morreale and Ally Romanko, features the last two MVP selections in Lynch (2008) and Morreale (2007). The Falcons return the 2008 women's MVP and Most Improved Runner in senior Katie Lynch, as well as the 2008 Freshman of the Year in Auriele Fain. On the men's side, Air Force welcomes back Justin Tyner, the 2008 Most Improved Runner, and James Walmsley, the 2008 Freshman of the Year. The Falcons will be led by Juli Benson, who is entering her first season as the head coach of the Air Force cross country team. During the 2009 track season, her distance runners accounted for a pair of conference titles and Academy records.