NCAA Division II men's cross country championships
The NCAA Division II men's cross country championships (previously the NCAA College Division cross country championships , from 1958 to 1973) are contested at an annual meet organized by the NCAA to determine the team and individual national champions of men's collegiate cross country running among its Division II members in the United States and Canada . It has been held every fall, usually in November, since breaking off from the NCAA University Division Men's Cross Country Championships in 1958.[ 1]
Initially created for cross country programs from smaller universities and colleges, a third championship, the NCAA Division III men's cross country championships , split away in 1973 when the NCAA created its current three-division structure.
Adams State have been the most successful program, with 13 national titles.
The defending national teams champions are Colorado Mines , who won their fourth national title in 2024.
West Texas A&M's William Amponsah is the two-time reigning individual champion.
The field for the championship race has ranged in size from a low of 11 teams in 1959 to a high of 59 teams in 1972. From 1983 to 1999 the field was fixed at 17 teams. Beginning in 2000, the national championship race has included 24 teams. Teams compete in one of eight regional championships to qualify. In addition to the 24 teams, 16 individual runners qualify for the national championship.[ 2]
The race distance from 1958 to 1967 was 4 miles (6.4 km). From 1968 to 1975 the race distance was 5 miles (8.0 km). Since 1976 the race distance has been 10,000 meters (6.2 mi)[ 3]
The event record for the 10,000 meter distance is 28:04.00, set by Shane Healy of Adams State Grizzlies in 1994.
Results
The race distance was 4 miles from 1958 to 1967, 5 miles from 1968 to 1975, and 10,000 meters (10 kilometers ) from 1976 to the present.
NCAA Division II Men's Cross Country Championship(NCAA College Division Men's Cross Country Championship, 1958–1973)
Year
Site(Host Team)
Championship Results
Individual Championship
Champion
Points
Runner-Up
Points
Winner(Team)
Time
1958Details
Wheaton, IL (Wheaton )
Northern Illinois
90
South Dakota State
93
Paul Whiteley (Emporia State )
20:45.0†
1959Details
South Dakota State
67
Emporia State
75
23:01.6
1960Details
Central State (OH)
72
Mankato State
109
John Mulholland (Loras )
20:28.3†
1961Details
Southern Illinois
33
South Dakota State
82
20:06.0†
1962Details
Central State (OH) (2)
77
Northern Illinois
96
Leslie Hegedus (Central State–OH)
19:59.1†
1963Details
Emporia State
44
Akron
174
John Camien (Emporia State)
19:16.9
1964Details
Kentucky State
95
Northeast Missouri State
105
Ed Schneider (Northeast Missouri State )
19:43.9
1965Details
San Diego State
55
Eastern Michigan
164
Gene Takle (Luther )
19:38.9
1966Details
San Diego State (2)
58
Western Illinois
184
Bob Fitts (Cortland State )
19:40.6
1967Details
San Diego State (3)
66
Cal Poly Pomona
133
Arjan Gelling (North Dakota )
19:33.5
The race distance changes from 4 miles to 5 miles
1968Details
Wheaton, IL (Wheaton )
Eastern Illinois
99
Mankato State
130
Dave Robbins (Portland State )
25:14.00†
1969Details
Eastern Illinois (2)
84
Eastern Michigan
146
Ron Stonitsch (C.W. Post )
24:53.00†
1970Details
Eastern Michigan
100
Cal State Fullerton
124
Mark Covert (Cal State Fullerton )
25:13.00
1971Details
Cal State Fullerton
147
North Dakota State
81
Mike Slack (North Dakota State )
24:19.00†
1972Details
North Dakota State
84
South Dakota State
143
24:36.00
1973Details
South Dakota State (2)
88
Southwest Missouri State
93
Garry Bentley (South Dakota State)
23:49.00†
1974Details
Springfield, MO (Southwest Missouri State )
Southwest Missouri State
112
South Dakota State
130
23:33.80
1975Details
Northridge, CA (Cal State Northridge )
UC Irvine
59
Cal State Northridge
91
Ralph Serna (UC Irvine )
23:40.6
The race distance changes from 5 miles to 10,000 meters
1976Details
Springfield, MO(Southwest Missouri State)
UC Irvine (2)
50
Southwest Missouri State
73
Ralph Serna(UC Irvine)
29:42.00†
1977Details
Chicago, IL (Illinois–Chicago )
Eastern Illinois (3)
37
South Dakota State
151
Michael Bollman (North Dakota State)
30:08.70
1978Details
Indiana, PA (Indiana of Pennsylvania )
Cal Poly
42
165
James Schankel (Cal Poly )
30:34.00
1979Details
Riverside, CA (UC Riverside )
Cal Poly (2)
45
Sacramento State
108
29:43.00
1980Details
Somers, WI (Wisconsin–Parkside )
Humboldt State
115
UNC Pembroke
120
Garry Henry (UNC Pembroke )
29:32.00†
1981Details
Lowell, MA (Lowell )
Millersville
97
Edinboro
99
Mark Conover (Humboldt State )
31:45.70
1982Details
St. Cloud, MN (St. Cloud State )
Eastern Washington
84
South Dakota State
123
Greg Beardsley (Edinboro )
36:49.80
1983Details
Somers, WI(Wisconsin–Parkside)
Cal Poly Pomona
86
St. Cloud State
100
Brian Ferrari (California–PA )
30:38.20
1984Details
Clinton, MS (Mississippi College )
Southeast Missouri State
87
Edinboro
129
Michael Vanatta (Southeast Missouri State )
29:55.00
1985Details
East Stroudsburg, PA (East Stroudsburg )
South Dakota State (3)
60
108
Samson Obwocha (East Texas State )
30:49.40
1986Details
Riverside, CA(UC Riverside)
Edinboro
56
South Dakota State
79
30:52.00
1987Details
Evansville, IN (Southern Indiana )
Edinboro (2)
95
Mankato State
113
Charles Cheruiyot (Mount St. Mary's )
30:42.00
1988Details
Clinton, MS(Mississippi College)
Edinboro (3) & Mankato State
77
South Dakota State
Doug Hanson (North Dakota State)
29:47.00
1989Details
East Stroudsburg, PA(East Stroudsburg)
South Dakota State (4)
97
Edinboro
102
Rob Edson (Keene State )
31:44.90
1990Details
Arcata, CA (Humboldt State )
Edinboro (4)
50
Shippensburg
125
Doug Hanson(North Dakota State)
29:18.80†
1991Details
Edwardsville, IL (SIU Edwardsville )
UMass Lowell
48
Nebraska–Kearney
96
Martin Lyons(Edinboro)
31:29.00
1992Details
Slippery Rock, PA (Slippery Rock )
Adams State
15
Western State
56
Phillip Castillo (Adams State )
32:24.00
1993Details
Riverside, CA(UC Riverside)
Adams State (2)
25
Edinboro
103
Shane Healy (Adams State)
28:04.00
1994Details
Kearney, NE (Nebraska–Kearney )
Adams State (3)
55
Western State
73
Charles Mulinga (Lewis )
30:59.90
1995Details
Spartanburg, SC (USC Upstate )
Western State
69
Central Missouri State
98
30:20.12
1996Details
Arcata, CA(Humboldt State)
South Dakota State (5)
119
Lewis
142
Alexandr Alexin (Central Missouri State )
31:23.60
1997Details
Somers, WI(Wisconsin–Parkside)
South Dakota
78
Central Missouri State
83
Elly Rono (Southern Indiana )
31:13.90
1998Details
Lawrence, KS (Kansas )
Adams State (4)
68
Western State
74
Yi Min Wu (Edinboro)
31:06.60
1999Details
Joplin, MO (Missouri Southern State )
Western State (2)
27
Adams State
95
Michael Aish (Western State )
29:19.00
2000Details
Pomona, CA (Cal Poly Pomona )
Western State (3)
29
Abilene Christian
62
Alfred Rugema (Abilene Christian )
30:17.00
2001Details
Slippery Rock, PA(Slippery Rock)
Western State (4)
38
74
Michael Aish(Western State)
30:52.60
2002Details
Ashland, OH (Cal Poly Pomona )
Western State (5)
35
81
Alfred Rugema(Abilene Christian)
30:43.70
2003Details
Cary, NC
Adams State (5)
40
68
Celedonio Rodriguez (Adams State)
30:25.60
2004Details
Evansville, IN(Southern Indiana)
Western State (6)
39
Adams State
76
Nicodemus Naimadu (Abilene Christian )
31:38.10
2005Details
Pomona, CA(Cal Poly Pomona)
Western State (7)
51
108
30:13.80
2006Details
Pensacola, FL
Abilene Christian
57
70
29:17.50
2007Details
Joplin, MO(Missouri Southern State)
Abilene Christian (2)
59
Adams State & Western State
66
29:37.70
2008Details
Slippery Rock, PA(Slippery Rock)
Adams State (6)
67
Western State
88
Scott Bauhs (Chico State )
30:23.00
2009Details
Evansville, IN(Southern Indiana)
Adams State (7)
23
86
Reuben Mwei (Adams State)
30:27.80
2010Details
Louisville, KY (Bellarmine )
Adams State (8)
57
102
Michael Crouch (Queens–NC )
30:43.20
2011Details
Spokane, WA
Western State (8)
27
Adams State
69
Ryan Haebe(Western State)
30:45.10
2012Details
Joplin, MO(Missouri Southern State)
Adams State (9)
34
Colorado Mines
102
Micah Chelimo (Alaska–Anchorage )
28:56.60
2013Details
Spokane, WA
Adams State (10)
54
Grand Valley State
104
Tabor Stevens (Adams State)
29:50.10
2014Details
Louisville, KY(Bellarmine)
Adams State (11)
69
Grand Valley State
127
30:02.00
2015Details
Joplin, MO(Missouri Southern State)
Colorado Mines
100
Adams State
127
Alfred Chelanga (Shorter )
29:24.6
2016Details
Tampa, FL (Saint Leo )
Adams State (12)
54
Grand Valley State
79
Vincent Kiprop (Missouri Southern )
29:07.4
2017Details
Evansville, IN(Southern Indiana)
Adams State (13)
44
Grand Valley State
64
James Ngandu (Tiffin )
30:18.8
2018Details
Pittsburgh, PA (Clarion )
Grand Valley State
89
Colorado Mines
99
Marcelo Laguera (CSU-Pueblo )
31:46.4
2019Details
Joplin, MO(Missouri Southern State)
Colorado Mines (2)
57
Adams State
136
Ezra Mutai (American Int'l )
29:31.2
2020Details
Evansville, IN(Southern Indiana)
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
2021[ 4] [ 5] [ 6] [ 7] Details
Tampa, FL
Grand Valley State (2)
43
Adams State
84
Isaac Harding(Grand Valley State )
29:58.3
2022Details
Seattle, WA (Seattle Pacific )
Colorado Mines (3)
43
Wingate
177
Dillon Powell(Colorado Mines )
29:28.0
2023Details
Joplin, MO(Missouri Southern State)
Wingate
70
Colorado Mines
79
William Amponsah(West Texas A&M )
29:04.3
2024Details
Sacramento, CA
Colorado Mines (4)
63
Wingate
66
29:40.8
2025Details
Kenosha, WI(Wisconsin–Parkside)
A † indicates a then-NCAA record-setting time for that particular distance.
A time highlighted in ██ indicates the all-time NCAA championship record for that distance.
Champions
Team titles
Team national championships, by school: 13, 8, 4, 3, 2, 1
Team
Titles
Years
Adams State
13
1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
Western Colorado(Western State)
8
1995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2011
Colorado School of Mines
4
2015, 2019, 2022, 2024
Edinboro
1986, 1987, 1988, 1990
Central State (OH)
2
1960, 1962
Grand Valley State
2018, 2021
Cal Poly Pomona
1
1983
Cal Poly Humboldt(Humboldt State)
1980
Emporia State
1963
Kentucky State
1964
Millersville
1981
Minnesota State(Mankato State)
1988
Wingate
2023
Team
Titles
Years
South Dakota State
5
1959, 1973, 1985, 1989, 1996
Eastern Illinois
3
1968, 1969, 1977
San Diego State
1965, 1966, 1967
Abilene Christian
2
2006, 2007
UC Irvine
1975, 1976
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
1978, 1979
Cal State Fullerton
1
1971
Eastern Michigan
1970
Eastern Washington
1982
UMass Lowell
1991
Missouri State
1974
North Dakota State
1972
Northern Illinois
1958
South Dakota
1997
Southeast Missouri State
1984
Individual titles by team
Rank
Team
Titles
Years
1
Abilene Christian
6
2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Adams State
1992, 1993, 2003, 2009, 2013, 2014
2
North Dakota State
5
1971, 1972, 1977, 1988, 1990
3
West Texas A&M
3
1964, 2023, 2024
Edinboro
1982, 1991, 1998
Emporia State
1958, 1959, 1963
Western Colorado (Western State)
1999, 2001, 2011
4
UC Irvine
2
1975, 1976
Cal Poly–San Luis Obispo
1978, 1979
Lewis
1994, 1995
Loras
1960, 1961
South Dakota State
1973, 1974
Texas A&M–Commerce(East Texas State)
1985, 1986
5
Alaska–Anchorage
1
2012
American International
2019
Chico State
2008
Cal State Fullerton
1970
California (PA)
1983
Central Missouri(Central Missouri State)
1996
Central State (OH)
1962
Colorado School of Mines
2022
CSU Pueblo
2018
Cortland
1966
Grand Valley State
2021
Cal Poly Humboldt(Humboldt State)
1981
Keene State
1989
LIU–Post(C.W. Post)
1969
Luther
1965
Missouri Southern
2016
Mount St. Mary's
1987
UNC Pembroke(Pembroke State)
1980
North Dakota
1967
Portland State
1968
Queens (NC)
2010
Shorter
2015
Southeast Missouri State
1984
Southern Indiana
1997
Tiffin
2017
Truman
1964
Individual titles by runner
Rank
Runner
Team
Titles
Years
1
Nicodemus Naimadu
Abilene Christian
4
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
2
Paul Whiteley
Emporia State
2
1958, 1959
John Mulholland
Loras
1960, 1961
Mike Slack
North Dakota State
1971, 1972
Garry Bentley
South Dakota State
1973, 1974
Ralph Serna
UC Irvine
1975, 1976
James Schankel
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
1978, 1979
Samson Obwocha
Texas A&M–Commerce(East Texas State)
1985, 1986
Doug Hanson
North Dakota State
1988, 1990
Charles Mulinga
Lewis
1994, 1995
Michael Aish
Western Colorado(Western State)
1999, 2001
Alfred Rugema
Abilene Christian
2000, 2002
Tabor Stevens
Adams State
2013, 2014
See also
References
External links
Championships Meetings World events