COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Backed by three of the top four spots, the Air Force women's cross country team opened the season with a first-place finish at the Rust Buster Invitational, hosted by Colorado-Colorado Springs, on Saturday, Sept. 11, in Colorado Springs. Senior Katherine Ward paced the women's squad with a second-place finish, while junior Jim Walmsley finished third to lead the men.

Competing on a 4000-meter course, the women were led by Ward, who finished second with a time of 15:26.99. Junior Katie Carroll and sophomore Morgan Mosby placed third (15:34.50) and fourth (15:41.21), respectively. Air Force also earned top-12 finishes from freshman Carley Gross (ninth, 15:53.88) and sophomore Jen Bremser (11th, 15:58.25).