a national cross country title on Saturday in Tempe, Arizona when he placed fourth in the National Junior College Athletic Association Cross Country Championships.

Donawa, a student at Central Oregon Community College, was part of a seven-member team from his college which competed against 23 other two year colleges from the United States. There were 120 other finishers.

The youngster finished in a 24.28 time over the five mile course, half a minute behind winner Richard Kostei, a Kenyan who is studying at Barton College in Kansas.

Central Oregon placed four of their runners in the top 10 with another in 15th position as they finished with 43 points to win overall while South Planes College of Texas were second on 55 points.

Central Oregon's top runner, Abidi Bouzza, was beaten by Donawa for the first time, though head coach Mike Dilley points out the Moroccan Bouzza has only just returned from a knee injury. Bouzza finished eighth overall in 24.41 while teammates Mike Dudley (ninth in 24.55), Jake Harper (10th, 24.56) and Thomas Shanahan (15th, 25.12) completed the top five for Central Oregon.

"Jay ran the greatest race of his career with us,'' said Dilley. Donawa, a first team All-American, will transfer to the University of Washington in Seattle in January.

JAY DONAWA -- finished fourth.