The NAIA men's cross country championship is the annual cross country meet to determine the national champions of NAIA men's cross country running. It has been held annually since 1956. A team and individual championship are contested each year.
The most successful program has been Adams State, with 12 national titles. Oklahoma City has the most titles (5) of active NAIA programs.
The current champions are the Indiana Wesleyan, who won their first national title in 2025.
Results NAIA men's cross country championshipYear SiteChampionship resultsIndividual champion(s)Winner PointsRunners-upPoints Winner(team)Time 1956Omaha, NESouth Dakota State71Kansas Teachers–Hays68Ray Mation(Redlands)22:42.31957Howard Payne45South Dakota State64Don Brooksiek(South Dakota State)21:00.81958Kansas Teachers67South Dakota State73Ed Vander Heauval(Central Michigan)20:55.61959Kansas Teachers62Nebraska Teachers66Tom O’Riordan(Idaho State)20:55.61960Southern Illinois37Graceland100Joe Thomas(Southern Illinois)20:39.01961Kansas Teachers73Kansas Teachers–Hays75Jim Keefe(Central Conn. State)21:18.51962Kansas Teachers50Kansas Teachers–Hays95Ireland Sloan(Kansas Teachers)20:22.71963Kansas Teachers–Hays53Kansas Teachers69John Camien(Kansas Teachers)20:23.71964Howard Payne29Kansas Teachers–Hays6920:25.81965Kansas Teachers–Hays42Whitworth117Pat McMahon(Oklahoma Baptist)20:28.31966Eastern Michigan126Howard Payne15519:53.61967Eastern Michigan85St. Cloud State88John Mason(Kansas Teachers–Hays)20:14.01968Oklahoma City, OKKansas Teachers–Hays106Kansas Teachers11023:40.01969Kansas Teachers–Hays102Eastern Michigan111Ralph Foote(Taylor)24:53.01970Liberty, MOEastern Michigan86Kansas Teachers–Hays136Rex Maddaford(Eastern New Mexico)25:29.41971Adams State196Eastern New Mexico210David Antognoli(Edinboro State)25:40.21972Malone92Occidental169Mike Nixon(Kansas State Pittsburg)24:29.41973Salina, KSEastern New Mexico35Malone99Tony Brien(Marymount)23:42.51974Eastern New Mexico28U.S. International166Mike Boit(Eastern New Mexico)23:45.01975Edinboro State97Eastern New Mexico14424:23.01976Kenosha, WIEdinboro State56Adams State103John Kebiro(Eastern New Mexico)24:21.01977Adams State102Saginaw Valley State133Garry Henry(Pembroke State)24:11.01978Pembroke State126Saginaw Valley State147Kelly Jensen(Southern Oregon)25:07.01979Adams State63Wisconsin–La Crosse123Sam Montoya(Adams State)24:53.01980Salina, KSAdams State48Malone78Pat Porter(Adams State)24:28.51981Kenosha, WIAdams State76Wisconsin–La Crosse10924:55.01982Simon Fraser49Saginaw Valley State167Steve Delano(Southwestern–KS)25:01.01983Adams State47Wisconsin–La Crosse9524:44.01984Adams State31Wisconsin–La Crosse97Mike Maraun(Simon Fraser)24:39.01985Adams State26Wisconsin–La Crosse105Robbie Hipwood(Adams State)25:49.01986Adams State78Western State78Rick Robirds(Adams State)24:10.01987Adams State21New Mexico Highlands17123:47.01988Adams State51Western State88Craig Dickson(Adams State)24:18.01989Adams State39Malone53Rick Robirds(Adams State)24:01.01990Lubbock Christian33Adams State57James Bungei(Lubbock Christian) 24:07.01991Lubbock Christian26Adams State42 24:07.01992Lubbock Christian33Hillsdale9424:52.01993Lubbock Christian24Simon Fraser6123:37.01994Lubbock Christian21Hillsdale120Simeon Sawe(Lubbock Christian) 23:42.01995Lubbock Christian17Life (GA)6624:22.01996Lubbock Christian30Life (GA)79Silah Misoi(Life–GA)23:14.01997Lubbock Christian40Life (GA)80Sammy Nyamong(Life–GA)25:531998Life (GA)41Lindenwood81Silah Misoi(Life–GA)23:50.01999Life (GA)25McKendree9123:31.02000Life (GA)99Black Hills State137Alexis Sharangabo(Brevard)25:022001Life (GA)84Malone118Daniel Kibungei(Malone)24:172002Minot State120Eastern Oregon144Haregot Araya(McKendree)25:032003Louisville, KYMinot State162Black Hills State152Jerry Ziak(British Columbia)24:22.62004Virginia Intermont54Aquinas (MI)175Soimo Kiplagat(Lindenwood)24:17.202005Virginia Intermont52Concordia (CA)12223:49.102006Virginia Intermont67Concordia (CA)136David Cheromei(Virginia Intermont)24:05.152007Kenosha, WIMalone59Black Hills State202Aron Rono(Azusa Pacific)23:52.12008Malone61Azusa Pacific11823:45.82009Fort Vancouver, WAMalone44Concordia (NE)166Silas Kisorio(Oklahoma Christian)24:232010Southern Oregon105Wayland Baptist124Kennedy Kithuka(Wayland Baptist) 24:022011Oklahoma Christian93Cal State San Marcos18823:152012St. Francis (IL)138Southern Oregon153John Gilbertson(Master's)23:562013Lawrence, KSOklahoma City77Southern Oregon124Eric Avila(Southern Oregon)24:02.452014Oklahoma City55Southern Oregon121Benard Keter(Wayland Baptist)24:36.402015Charlotte, NCOklahoma City78Saint Mary168Geoffrey Kipchumba(William Carey)23:55.02016Elsah, ILSouthern Oregon122St. Francis (IL)148Jackson Thomas(Bacone)23.50.22017Fort Vancouver, WABritish Columbia41Columbia (MO)168Mark ShawOklahoma City24:092018Cedar Rapids, IAOklahoma City116Indiana Wesleyan 143Colin De YoungIndiana Wesleyan24:132019Fort Vancouver, WAOklahoma City110Taylor171Mark ShawOklahoma City24:392020Cedar Rapids, IATaylor73Huntington (IN)114Zouhair TalbiOklahoma City23:45.152021Vancouver, WAMilligan115Saint Mary17524:43.12022Tallahassee, FLDordt97Milligan115Abraham ChelangamOklahoma City23:41.92023Fort Vancouver, WAMilligan93Saint Mary98Jackson WilsonRocky Mountain24:31.82024Columbia, MOCollege of Idaho87Milligan96Evert SilvaOklahoma City23:14.02025Tallahassee, FLIndiana Wesleyan117The Master's128Jack AndersonThe Master's24:15.42026Fort Vancouver, WA2027Columbia, MO
Champions Team titles Active NAIA programs Team Titles Years 5 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 4 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 2 2021, 2023 2 2010, 2016 1 2025 1 2024 1 2022 1 2020 1 2012
Former NAIA programs Team Titles Years 12 1971, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 8 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 4 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962 4 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962 4 1972, 2007, 2008, 2009 3 1966, 1967, 1970 3 2004, 2005, 2006 2 1973, 1974 2 1975, 1976 2 1957, 1964 2 2002, 2003 1 2011 1 1982 1 1978 1 1960 1 1956
See also NAIA women's cross country championship NCAA men's cross country championships (Division I, Division II, Division III) NCAA women's cross country championships (Division I, Division II, Division III)
References
External links NAIA Web site