NCAA Division II men's cross country championships

The NCAA Men's Division II Cross Country Championship is an annual cross country meet to decide the team and individual national champions of men's intercollegiate cross country running in the United States. It has been held every fall, usually in November, since breaking off from the NCAA University Division Men's Cross Country Championships in 1958.

NCAA Division II men's cross country championships
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 NCAA Men's Division II Cross Country Championship
SportCross country
Founded1958
Country United States
Most recent
champion(s)
Wingate (1)
Official websiteNCAA.com

Known as the NCAA College Division Men's Cross Country Championship until 1973, it was created for cross country programs from smaller universities and colleges. A third championship, the NCAA Men's Division III Cross Country Championship, split away in 1973 when the NCAA created its current three-division structure.

The defending national teams champions are Wingate, who won their first national title in 2023.

West Texas A&M's William Amponsah is the reigning individual champion.

Format

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.[1]

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)[2]

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)
YearSite
(Host Team)
Championship ResultsIndividual Championship
ChampionPointsRunner-UpPointsWinner
(Team)
Time
1958
Details
Wheaton, IL
(Wheaton)
Northern Illinois90South Dakota State93Paul Whiteley
(Emporia State)
20:45.0†
1959
Details
South Dakota State67Emporia State7523:01.6
1960
Details
Central State (OH)72Mankato State109John Mulholland
(Loras)
20:28.3†
1961
Details
Southern Illinois33South Dakota State8220:06.0†
1962
Details
Central State (OH) (2)77Northern Illinois96Leslie Hegedus
(Central State–OH)
19:59.1†
1963
Details
Emporia State44Akron174John Camien
(Emporia State)
19:16.9
1964
Details
Kentucky State95Northeast Missouri State105Ed Schneider
(Northeast Missouri State)
19:43.9
1965
Details
San Diego State55Eastern Michigan164Gene Takle
(Luther)
19:38.9
1966
Details
San Diego State (2)58Western Illinois184Bob Fitts
(Cortland State)
19:40.6
1967
Details
San Diego State (3)66Cal Poly Pomona133Arjan Gelling
(North Dakota)
19:33.5
The race distance changes from 4 miles to 5 miles
1968
Details
Wheaton, IL
(Wheaton)
Eastern Illinois99Mankato State130Dave Robbins
(Portland State)
25:14.00†
1969
Details
Eastern Illinois (2)84Eastern Michigan146Ron Stonitsch
(C.W. Post)
24:53.00†
1970
Details
Eastern Michigan100Cal State Fullerton124Mark Covert
(Cal State Fullerton)
25:13.00
1971
Details
Cal State Fullerton147North Dakota State81Mike Slack
(North Dakota State)
24:19.00†
1972
Details
North Dakota State84South Dakota State14324:36.00
1973
Details
South Dakota State (2)88Southwest Missouri State93Garry Bentley
(South Dakota State)
23:49.00†
1974
Details
Springfield, MO
(Southwest Missouri State)
Southwest Missouri State112South Dakota State13023:33.80
1975
Details
Northridge, CA
(Cal State Northridge)
UC Irvine59Cal State Northridge91Ralph Serna
(UC Irvine)
23:40.6
The race distance changes from 5 miles to 10,000 meters
1976
Details
Springfield, MO
(Southwest Missouri State)
UC Irvine (2)50Southwest Missouri State73Ralph Serna
(UC Irvine)
29:42.00†
1977
Details
Chicago, IL
(Illinois–Chicago)
Eastern Illinois (3)37South Dakota State151Michael Bollman
(North Dakota State)
30:08.70
1978
Details
Indiana, PA
(Indiana of Pennsylvania)
Cal Poly42165James Schankel
(Cal Poly)
30:34.00
1979
Details
Riverside, CA
(UC Riverside)
Cal Poly (2)45Sacramento State10829:43.00
1980
Details
Somers, WI
(Wisconsin–Parkside)
Humboldt State115UNC Pembroke120Garry Henry
(UNC Pembroke)
29:32.00†
1981
Details
Lowell, MA
(Lowell)
Millersville97Edinboro99Mark Conover
(Humboldt State)
31:45.70
1982
Details
St. Cloud, MN
(St. Cloud State)
Eastern Washington84South Dakota State123Greg Beardsley
(Edinboro)
36:49.80
1983
Details
Somers, WI
(Wisconsin–Parkside)
Cal Poly Pomona86St. Cloud State100Brian Ferrari
(California–PA)
30:38.20
1984
Details
Clinton, MS
(Mississippi College)
Southeast Missouri State87Edinboro129Michael Vanatta
(Southeast Missouri State)
29:55.00
1985
Details
East Stroudsburg, PA
(East Stroudsburg)
South Dakota State (3)60108Samson Obwocha
(East Texas State)
30:49.40
1986
Details
Riverside, CA
(UC Riverside)
Edinboro56South Dakota State7930:52.00
1987
Details
Evansville, IN
(Southern Indiana)
Edinboro (2)95Mankato State113Charles Cheruiyot
(Mount St. Mary's)
30:42.00
1988
Details
Clinton, MS
(Mississippi College)
Edinboro (3) &
Mankato State
77South Dakota StateDoug Hanson
(North Dakota State)
29:47.00
1989
Details
East Stroudsburg, PA
(East Stroudsburg)
South Dakota State (4)97Edinboro102Rob Edson
(Keene State)
31:44.90
1990
Details
Arcata, CA
(Humboldt State)
Edinboro (4)50Shippensburg125Doug Hanson
(North Dakota State)
29:18.80†
1991
Details
Edwardsville, IL
(SIU Edwardsville)
UMass Lowell48Nebraska–Kearney96Martin Lyons
(Edinboro)
31:29.00
1992
Details
Slippery Rock, PA
(Slippery Rock)
Adams State15Western State56Phillip Castillo
(Adams State)
32:24.00
1993
Details
Riverside, CA
(UC Riverside)
Adams State (2)25Edinboro103Shane Healy
(Adams State)
28:04.00
1994
Details
Kearney, NE
(Nebraska–Kearney)
Adams State (3)55Western State73Charles Mulinga
(Lewis)
30:59.90
1995
Details
Spartanburg, SC
(USC Upstate)
Western State69Central Missouri State9830:20.12
1996
Details
Arcata, CA
(Humboldt State)
South Dakota State (5)119Lewis142Alexandr Alexin
(Central Missouri State)
31:23.60
1997
Details
Somers, WI
(Wisconsin–Parkside)
South Dakota78Central Missouri State83Elly Rono
(Southern Indiana)
31:13.90
1998
Details
Lawrence, KS
(Kansas)
Adams State (4)68Western State74Yi Min Wu
(Edinboro)
31:06.60
1999
Details
Joplin, MO
(Missouri Southern State)
Western State (2)27Adams State95Michael Aish
(Western State)
29:19.00
2000
Details
Pomona, CA
(Cal Poly Pomona)
Western State (3)29Abilene Christian62Alfred Rugema
(Abilene Christian)
30:17.00
2001
Details
Slippery Rock, PA
(Slippery Rock)
Western State (4)3874Michael Aish
(Western State)
30:52.60
2002
Details
Ashland, OH
(Cal Poly Pomona)
Western State (5)3581Alfred Rugema
(Abilene Christian)
30:43.70
2003
Details
Cary, NCAdams State (5)4068Celedonio Rodriguez
(Adams State)
30:25.60
2004
Details
Evansville, IN
(Southern Indiana)
Western State (6)39Adams State76Nicodemus Naimadu
(Abilene Christian)
31:38.10
2005
Details
Pomona, CA
(Cal Poly Pomona)
Western State (7)5110830:13.80
2006
Details
Pensacola, FLAbilene Christian577029:17.50
2007
Details
Joplin, MO
(Missouri Southern State)
Abilene Christian (2)59Adams State &
Western State
6629:37.70
2008
Details
Slippery Rock, PA
(Slippery Rock)
Adams State (6)67Western State88Scott Bauhs
(Chico State)
30:23.00
2009
Details
Evansville, IN
(Southern Indiana)
Adams State (7)2386Reuben Mwei
(Adams State)
30:27.80
2010
Details
Louisville, KY
(Bellarmine)
Adams State (8)57102Michael Crouch
(Queens–NC)
30:43.20
2011
Details
Spokane, WAWestern State (8)27Adams State69Ryan Haebe
(Western State)
30:45.10
2012
Details
Joplin, MO
(Missouri Southern State)
Adams State (9)34Colorado Mines102Micah Chelimo
(Alaska–Anchorage)
28:56.60
2013
Details
Spokane, WAAdams State (10)54Grand Valley State104Tabor Stevens
(Adams State)
29:50.10
2014
Details
Louisville, KY
(Bellarmine)
Adams State (11)69Grand Valley State12730:02.00
2015
Details
Joplin, MO
(Missouri Southern State)
Colorado Mines100Adams State127Alfred Chelanga
(Shorter)
29:24.6
2016
Details
Tampa, FL
(Saint Leo)
Adams State (12)54Grand Valley State79Vincent Kiprop
(Missouri Southern)
29:07.4
2017
Details
Evansville, IN
(Southern Indiana)
Adams State (13)44Grand Valley State64James Ngandu
(Tiffin)
30:18.8
2018
Details
Pittsburgh, PA
(Clarion)
Grand Valley State89Colorado Mines99Marcelo Laguera
(CSU-Pueblo)
31:46.4
2019
Details
Joplin, MO
(Missouri Southern State)
Colorado Mines (2)57Adams State136Ezra Mutai
(American Int'l)
29:31.2
2020
Details
Evansville, IN
(Southern Indiana)
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
2021[3][4][5][6]
Details
Tampa, FLGrand Valley State (2)43Adams State84Isaac Harding
(Grand Valley State)
29:58.3
2022
Details
Seattle, WA
(Seattle Pacific)
Colorado Mines (3)43Wingate177Dillon Powell
(Colorado Mines)
29:28.0
2023
Details
Joplin, MO
(Missouri Southern State)
Wingate70Colorado Mines79William Amponsah
(West Texas A&M)
29:04.3
2024
Details
Sacramento, CA
2025
Details
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

Adams State
Western Colorado
Edinboro
Colorado Mines
GVSU
CSU
CP Pomona
CP Humboldt
Kentucky State
Wingate
Millersville
Emporia State
Minnesota State
Team national championships, by school: 13, 8, 4, 3, 2, 1
TeamTitlesYears
Adams State131992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017
Western Colorado
(Western State)
81995, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2011
Edinboro41986, 1987, 1988, 1990
Colorado School of Mines32015, 2019, 2022
Central State (OH)21960, 1962
Grand Valley State2018, 2021
Cal Poly Pomona11983
Cal Poly Humboldt
(Humboldt State)
1980
Emporia State1963
Kentucky State1964
Millersville1981
Minnesota State
(Mankato State)
1988
Wingate2023

Former Division II

TeamTitlesYears
South Dakota State51959, 1973, 1985, 1989, 1996
Eastern Illinois31968, 1969, 1977
San Diego State1965, 1966, 1967
Abilene Christian22006, 2007
UC Irvine1975, 1976
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo1978, 1979
Cal State Fullerton11971
Eastern Michigan1970
Eastern Washington1982
UMass Lowell1991
Missouri State1974
North Dakota State1972
Northern Illinois1958
South Dakota1997
Southeast Missouri State1984

Individual titles by team

RankTeamTitlesYears
1Abilene Christian62000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Adams State1992, 1993, 2003, 2009, 2013, 2014
2North Dakota State51971, 1972, 1977, 1988, 1990
3Edinboro31982, 1991, 1998
Emporia State1958, 1959, 1963
Western Colorado (Western State)1999, 2001, 2011
4UC Irvine21975, 1976
Cal Poly–San Luis Obispo1978, 1979
Lewis1994, 1995
Loras1960, 1961
South Dakota State1973, 1974
Texas A&M–Commerce (East Texas State)1985, 1986
5Alaska–Anchorage12012
American International2019
Chico State2008
Cal State Fullerton1970
California (PA)1983
Central Missouri (Central Missouri State)1996
Central State (OH)1962
Colorado School of Mines2022
CSU Pueblo2018
Cortland1966
Grand Valley State2021
Cal Poly Humboldt (Humboldt State)1981
Keene State1989
LIU–Post (C.W. Post)1969
Luther1965
Missouri Southern2016
Mount St. Mary's1987
UNC Pembroke (Pembroke State)1980
North Dakota1967
Portland State1968
Queens (NC)2010
Shorter2015
Southeast Missouri State1984
Southern Indiana1997
Tiffin2017
Truman1964
West Texas A&M1964

Individual titles by runner

RankRunnerTeamTitlesYears
1Nicodemus NaimaduAbilene Christian42004, 2005, 2006, 2007
2Paul WhiteleyEmporia State21958, 1959
John MulhollandLoras1960, 1961
Mike SlackNorth Dakota State1971, 1972
Garry BentleySouth Dakota State1973, 1974
Ralph SernaUC Irvine1975, 1976
James SchankelCal Poly1978, 1979
Samson ObwochaTexas A&M–Commerce
East Texas State
1985, 1986
Doug HansonNorth Dakota State1988, 1990
Charles MulingaLewis1994, 1995
Michael AishWestern State1999, 2001
Alfred RugemaAbilene Christian2000, 2002
Tabor StevensAdams State2013, 2014
  • Schools highlighted in pink are closed or no longer sponsor athletics.
  • Schools highlight in yellow have reclassified athletics from NCAA Division II.

See also

References