NCAA Division I men's cross country championships

The NCAA Division I men's cross country championships (formerly known as the NCAA University Division cross country championships) are contested at an annual meet hosted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association to determine the individual and team national champions of men's collegiate cross country running among its Division I members in the United States. It has been held every fall (typically in November) since the NCAA split into its current three-division format in 1973.

The teams and individual runners qualify for the championship at regional competitions approximately a week before the national championships.

Arkansas has been the most successful program, with eleven national titles.

Oklahoma State is the defending team national champion, winning their sixth title in 2025.

History Almost each year in the autumn since 1938, with the only exception of 1943 and 2020, the National Collegiate Athletic Association has hosted men's cross country championships. Since 1958, the NCAA has had multiple division championships. Since 1973, Divisions I, II and III have all had their own national championships.

The field for the Division I national championship race has ranged in size from a low of 6 teams in 1938, to a high of 39 teams in 1970. From 1982 to 1997, the field was fixed at 22 teams. From 1998 to 2024, the field was increased to 31 teams, and then starting in 2025, a total of 32 teams now compete annually for the championship. The 32-team field will increase the total male and female competitors from 255 to 262. The reason for this change is an increase in collegiate programs across the country in recent years, and a belief that the increased teams will improve competition while still being comfortably accommodated on the cross-country course.

The race distance from 1938 to 1964 was . From 1965 to 1975, the race distance was . Since 1976, the race distance has been .

Wisconsin and Syracuse are the only two teams East of the Mississippi River that have won in the 21st Century.

Qualifying Teams compete in one of nine regional championships to qualify, where the top two teams automatically advance. Fourteen additional teams will be selected for a 32 team field. 28 individuals will be selected to participate in each championship through an automatic qualifier. The first four regional finishers not from automatic qualifying teams also secure an auto-bid to the championship round.

Results Prior to 1958, only a single national championship was held between all members of the NCAA; Division II started in 1958 and Division III in 1973.

NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country ChampionshipYear Host City(Host Team)Team ChampionshipIndividual ChampionshipWinner PointsRunner-up PointsWinner(Team)Time 1938 DetailsEast Lansing, MI(Michigan State)Indiana51 Notre Dame61Greg Rice(Notre Dame)20:12.91939 DetailsMichigan State54 Wisconsin57Walter Mehl(Wisconsin)20:30.91940 DetailsIndiana65Eastern Michigan68Gil Dodds(Ashland)20:30.21941 DetailsRhode Island83Penn State110Fred Wilt(Indiana) 20:32.11942 DetailsIndianaPenn State57Rhode Island79Oliver Hunter(Notre Dame)20:18.01943 Not Held due to World War II1944 DetailsEast Lansing, MI(Michigan State) Drake25 Notre Dame64 Fred Feiler(Drake)21:04.21945 Details Drake50 Notre Dame65 Fred Feiler(Drake)21:14.21946 Details Drake42 NYU98 Quentin Brelsford(Ohio Wesleyan) 20:22.91947 Details Penn State60 Syracuse72 Jack Milne(North Carolina) 20:41.11948 Details Michigan State41 Wisconsin69 Robert Black(Rhode Island) 19:52.31949 Details Michigan State59 Syracuse81 Robert Black(Rhode Island) 20:25.71950 Details Penn State53Michigan State55 Herb Semper(Kansas) 20:31.71951 Details Syracuse80 Kansas118 Herb Semper(Kansas) 20:09.51952 Details Michigan State65Indiana68 Charles Capozzoli(Georgetown) 19:36.71953 Details Kansas70Indiana82 Wes Santee(Kansas) 19:43.51954 Details Oklahoma State61 Syracuse118 Allen Frame(Kansas) 19:54.21955 Details Michigan State46 Kansas68 Charles Jones(Iowa) 19:57.41956 Details Michigan State28 Kansas88 Walter McNew(Texas) 19:55.71957 Details Notre Dame121Michigan State127 Max Truex(USC)19:12.3†1958 Details Michigan State79 Western Michigan104 Crawford Kennedy(Michigan State) 20:07.11959 Details Michigan State44 Houston120 Al Lawrence(Houston)20:35.71960 Details Houston54Michigan State80 Al Lawrence(Houston)19:28.21961 Details Oregon State68 San Jose State82 Dale Story(Oregon State)19:46.61962 Details San Jose State58 Villanova69 Tom O'Hara(Loyola–Chicago)19:20.31963 Details San Jose State53 Oregon68 Victor Zwolak(Villanova)19:35.01964 Details Western Michigan86 Oregon116 Elmore Banton(Ohio)20:07.5The race distance changes from 4 miles to 6 miles1965 DetailsLawrence, KS(Kansas) Western Michigan81 Northwestern114 John Lawson(Kansas) 29:24.01966 Details Villanova79 Kansas State155 Gerry Lindgren(Washington State)29:01.41967 DetailsLaramie, WY(Wyoming) Villanova91 Air Force96 Gerry Lindgren(Washington State) 30:45.61968 DetailsBronx, NY(Manhattan) Villanova78 Stanford100 Michael Ryan(Air Force) 29:16.81969 Details UTEP74 Villanova88 Gerry Lindgren(Washington State)28:59.21970 DetailsWilliamsburg, VA(William & Mary) Villanova85 Oregon86 Steve Prefontaine(Oregon) 28:00.2†1971 DetailsKnoxville, TN(Tennessee) Oregon83 Washington State122 Steve Prefontaine(Oregon)29:14.01972 DetailsHouston, TX(Houston) Tennessee134 East Tennessee State148 Neil Cusack(East Tennessee State)28:23.01973 DetailsPullman, WA(Washington State) Oregon89 UTEP157 Steve Prefontaine(Oregon) 28:14.81974 DetailsBloomington, IN(Indiana) Oregon77 Western Kentucky110 Nick Rose(Western Kentucky) 29:22.001975 DetailsState College, PA(Penn State) UTEP88 Oregon92 Craig Virgin(Illinois) 28:23.3*The race distance changes from 6 miles to 10 kilometers1976 DetailsDenton, TX(North Texas) UTEP62 Oregon117 Henry Rono(Washington State)28:06.6†1977 DetailsPullman, WA(Washington State) Oregon100 UTEP105 Henry Rono(Washington State)28:33.51978 DetailsMadison, WI(Wisconsin) UTEP56 Oregon72 Alberto Salazar(Oregon) 29:29.71979 DetailsBethlehem, PA(Lehigh) UTEP86 Oregon93 Henry Rono(Washington State) 28:19.61980 DetailsWichita, KS(Wichita State) UTEP58 Arkansas152 Suleiman Nyambui(UTEP) 29:04.01981 DetailsWichita, KS(Wichita State) UTEP17 Providence109 Matthews Motshwarateu(UTEP) 28:45.61982 DetailsBloomington, IN(Indiana) Wisconsin59 Providence138 Mark Scrutton(Colorado) 30:12.61983 DetailsBethlehem, PA(Lehigh) (Vacated)108 Wisconsin164 Zakarie Barie(UTEP) 29:20.01984 DetailsState College, PA(Penn State) Arkansas101 Arizona111 Ed Eyestone(BYU) 29:28.81985 DetailsMilwaukee, WI(Marquette) Wisconsin67 Arkansas104 Tim Hacker(Wisconsin) 29:17.881986 DetailsTucson, AZ(Arizona) Arkansas69 Dartmouth141 Aaron Ramirez(Arizona) 30:27.531987 DetailsCharlottesville, VA(Virginia) Arkansas87 Dartmouth119 Joe Falcon(Arkansas) 29:14.971988 DetailsAmes, IA(Iowa State) Wisconsin105 Northern Arizona160 Bob Kennedy(Indiana)29:20.001989 DetailsAnnapolis, MD(Navy) Iowa State54 Oregon72 John Nuttall(Iowa State) 29:30.551990 DetailsKnoxville, TN(Tennessee) Arkansas68 Iowa State96 Jonah Koech(Iowa State) 29:051991 DetailsTucson, AZ(Arizona) Arkansas52 Wisconsin148 Sean Dollman(Western Kentucky) 30:17.11992 DetailsBloomington, IN(Indiana) Arkansas46 Wisconsin87 Bob Kennedy(Indiana) 30:15.31993 DetailsBethlehem, PA(Lehigh) Arkansas31 BYU153 Josephat Kapkory(Washington State) 29:32.41994 DetailsFayetteville, AR(Arkansas) Iowa State65 Colorado88 Martin Keino(Arizona) 30:08.71995 DetailsAmes, IA(Iowa State) Arkansas100 Northern Arizona142 Godfrey Siamusiye(Arkansas) 30:091996 DetailsTucson, AZ(Arizona) Stanford46 Arkansas74 Godfrey Siamusiye(Arkansas) 29:491997 DetailsGreenville, SC(Furman) Stanford53 Arkansas56 Mebrahtom Keflezighi(UCLA) 28:541998 DetailsLawrence, KS(Kansas) Arkansas97 Stanford114 Adam Goucher(Colorado) 29:26.91999 DetailsBloomington, IN(Indiana) Arkansas58 Wisconsin185 David Kimani(South Alabama) 30:06.62000 DetailsAmes, IA(Iowa State) Arkansas83 Colorado94 Keith Kelly(Providence) 30:14.52001 DetailsGreenville, SC(Furman) Colorado90 Stanford91 Boaz Cheboiywo(Eastern Michigan) 28:472002 DetailsTerre Haute, IN(Indiana State) Stanford47 Wisconsin107 Jorge Torres(Colorado) 29:04.72003 DetailsCedar Falls, IA(Northern Iowa) Stanford24 Wisconsin147 Dathan Ritzenhein(Colorado) 29:14.12004 DetailsTerre Haute, IN(Indiana State) Colorado90 Wisconsin94 Simon Bairu(Wisconsin) 30:37.72005 Details Wisconsin37 Arkansas105 Simon Bairu(Wisconsin) 29:15.92006 Details Colorado94 Wisconsin142 Josh Rohatinsky(BYU) 30:44.92007 Details Oregon85 Iona113 Josh McDougal(Liberty) 29:22.42008 Details Oregon93 Iona147 Galen Rupp(Oregon) 29:03.22009 Details Oklahoma State127 Oregon143 Sam Chelanga(Liberty) 28:41.32010 Details Oklahoma State73 Florida State193 Sam Chelanga(Liberty) 29:22.22011 Details Wisconsin97 Oklahoma State139 Lawi Lalang(Arizona) 28:44.12012 DetailsLouisville, KY(Louisville) Oklahoma State72 Wisconsin135 Kennedy Kithuka(Texas Tech) 28:31.32013 DetailsTerre Haute, IN(Indiana State) Colorado149 Northern Arizona169 Edward Cheserek(Oregon)29:41.12014 Details Colorado65 Stanford98 Edward Cheserek(Oregon)30:19.42015 DetailsLouisville, KY(Louisville) Syracuse 82 Colorado 91 Edward Cheserek(Oregon) 28:45.82016 DetailsTerre Haute, IN(Indiana State) Northern Arizona 125 Stanford 158 Patrick Tiernan(Villanova) 29:22.02017 DetailsLouisville, KY(Louisville) Northern Arizona 74 Portland 127 Justyn Knight(Syracuse) 29:00.22018 DetailsMadison, WI(Wisconsin) Northern Arizona 83 BYU 116 Morgan McDonald(Wisconsin) 29:08.32019 DetailsTerre Haute, IN(Indiana State) BYU109Northern Arizona163 Edwin Kurgat(Iowa State) 30:32.72020 DetailsStillwater, OK(Oklahoma State)Northern Arizona60Notre Dame87 Conner Mantz(BYU)29:26.12021 DetailsTallahassee, FL(Florida State)Northern Arizona92Iowa State137Conner Mantz(BYU) 28:33.12022 DetailsStillwater, OK(Oklahoma State) Northern Arizona83 Oklahoma State83 Charles Hicks(Stanford) 28:43.62023 DetailsCharlottesville, VA(Virginia) Oklahoma State 49 Northern Arizona 71 Graham Blanks(Harvard) 28:37.72024 DetailsMadison, WI(Wisconsin) BYU 124 Iowa State 137 Graham Blanks(Harvard) 28:37.22025 DetailsColumbia, MO(Missouri) Oklahoma State 57 New Mexico 82 Habtom Samuel(New Mexico) 28:33.92026 DetailsTerre Haute, IN(Indiana State)2027 DetailsStillwater, OK(Oklahoma State) A time highlighted in ██ indicates an NCAA championship record time for that distance at the time. A † indicates the all-time NCAA championship record for that distance. UTEP's 1983 championship was vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions.

Champions

Team titles List updated through the 2025 Championships

Team # Winning years 11 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000 8 1939, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1959 7 1969, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981 6 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 1954, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2023, 2025 1971, 1973, 1974, 1977, 2007, 2008 5 2001, 2004, 2006, 2013, 2014 1982, 1985, 1988, 2005, 2011 4 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970 3 1944, 1945, 1946 1938, 1940, 1942 1942, 1947, 1950 2 2019, 2024 1989, 1994 1962, 1963 1951, 2015 1964, 1965 1 1972 1961 1960 1957 1953 1941

Individual titles List updated through the 2025 Championships. Team # 8 7 5 4 3 2

Appearances List updated through the 2025 Championships.

Most team appearances (top 15) Rank Team Appearances Wisconsin 62 Notre Dame 56 Colorado 55 Arkansas 54 Oregon 48 Michigan State 47 Providence 42 Georgetown BYU 41 Penn State Texas 40 Villanova 38 Oklahoma State Michigan 37 Northern Arizona 35

Records Best Team Score: 17 UTEP (1981; Matthews Motshwarateu–1, Michael Musyoki–2, Gabriel Kaman–3, Suleiman Nyambui–5, Gidamis Shahanga–6) Most Individual Titles: 3 (tie) Gerry Lindgren, Washington State (1966, 1967, and 1969) Steve Prefontaine, Oregon (1970, 1971, and 1973) Henry Rono, Washington State (1976, 1977, and 1979) Edward Cheserek, Oregon (2013, 2014, and 2015)