Beasts TC & Joe Gray take home national titles at USATF National Club Cross Country Championships...

BEND, Oregon--Led by Cal alum Deborah Maier's third place finish, and top ten finishes by Angela Bizzarri, and Brie Felnagle, the Seattle-based Beasts TC took home the national title at the USA Track & Field National Club Cross Country Championships at the River's Edge Golf Course on a chilly, snow-filled day.

University of Colorado alum Laura Thweatt took the victory over the 6-k course that featured numerous tight turns and slippery footing, winning in a time of 21:43.

Maier crossed the line in 22:06, with former NCAA cross country champ Bizzari one place and one second back, and 2011 club cross country champ Felnagle seventh in 22:15.

Completing the scoring for the Beasts were Seattle Pacific alum Jessica Tebo in 13th in 22:25, and Minnesota alum Jamie Cheever in 18th in 22:33.

The Beasts won the national title with a low score of 34 points, easily ahead of second place Boulder Running Company, which had 85 points.

Among runners with Washington ties that finished in the top 25 included Sequim HS alum and former Stanford runner Stephanie (Marcy) Dinius in 11th (22:20); Washington alum Christine Babcock in 21st (22:37); and defending champion Mattie Suver in 24th (22:46).

On the men's side, Lakewood resident and University of Portland alum Joe Gray of Club Northwest (above/photo by Mike Scott), who is known nationally as one of the country's premier mountain and trail runners, found the tough course to his liking, as he won the national title in 31:05 over the 10k course, six seconds ahead of runner-up Sean Quigley.

Washington State alum Jono Lafler of the Palouse Pirates missed a top-25 placing, finishing 26th in a time of 32:03.

Complete results from the USA Track & Field National Club Cross Country Championships are available here.

NOTE:  USA Track & Field contributed to this report.

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