NCAA Division I women's cross country championships

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The NCAA Division I women's 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 women's collegiate cross country running among its Division I members in the United States. The championships have been every year since 1981, except for 2020.

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

Villanova have been the most successful program, with nine team and nine individual titles.

NC State are the reigning national champions, winning their fourth title in 2025.

Qualifying The teams each compete in one of nine regional championships to qualify. Then the top two teams automatically advance, and 13 additional teams are chosen as at-large selections. In addition to the 31 teams, 38 individual runners qualify for the national championship.

History The Division I national championship race included 13 teams in 1981, 16 teams from 1982 to 1988 and 22 teams from 1989 to 1997. Beginning in 1998, the national championship race has included 31 teams.

The race distance from 1981 to 1999 was . Since 2000 the race distance has been .

Cross country was one of twelve women's sports added to the NCAA championship program for the 1981–82 school year, as the NCAA engaged in battle with the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women for sole governance of women's collegiate sports. The AIAW continued to conduct its established championship program in the same twelve (and other) sports; however, after a year of dual women's championships, the NCAA conquered the AIAW and usurped its authority and membership.

Villanova has won more NCAA Division I women's titles (9) than any other school, followed by BYU with 6. BYU and North Carolina State have competed in the most NCAA Division I women's championships (25). Villanova has had the most individual NCAA Division I women's cross country champions (9).

Results The championship race distance was 5,000 meters from 1981 to 1999, and has been 6,000 meters since the 2000 race. NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country ChampionshipYear Host city(Host Team)Team ChampionshipIndividual ChampionshipWinner PointsRunner-up PointsWinner(Team)Time 1981DetailsWichita, KS(Wichita State)Virginia36Oregon81Betty Jo Springs(NC State)16:19.01982DetailsBloomington, IN(Indiana)Virginia48Stanford91Lesley Welch(Virginia)16:39.71983DetailsBethlehem, PA(Lehigh)Oregon95Stanford98Betty Jo Springs(NC State)16:30.71984DetailsState College, PA(Penn State)Wisconsin63Stanford89Cathy Branta(Wisconsin)16:15.61985DetailsMilwaukee, WI(Marquette)Wisconsin58Iowa State98Suzie Tuffey(NC State)16:22.531986DetailsTucson, AZ(Arizona)Texas62Wisconsin64Angela Chalmers(Northern Arizona)16:55.491987DetailsCharlottesville, VA(Virginia)Oregon97NC State99Kimberly Betz(Indiana)16:10.851988DetailsAmes, IA(Iowa State)Kentucky75Oregon128Michelle Dekkers(Indiana)16:30.001989DetailsAnnapolis, MD(Navy)Villanova99Kentucky168Vicki Huber(Villanova)15:59.86†1990DetailsKnoxville, TN(Tennessee)Villanova82Providence172Sonia O'Sullivan(Villanova)16:06.001991DetailsTucson, AZ(Arizona)Villanova85Arkansas16816:30.31992DetailsBloomington, IN(Indiana)Villanova123Arkansas130Carole Zajac(Villanova)17:01.91993DetailsBethlehem, PA(Lehigh)Villanova66Arkansas7116:40.31994DetailsFayetteville, AR(Arkansas)Villanova75Michigan108Jennifer Rhines(Villanova)16:31.21995DetailsAmes, IA(Iowa State)Providence88Colorado123Kathy Butler(Wisconsin)16:511996DetailsTucson, AZ(Arizona)Stanford101Villanova106Amy Skieresz(Arizona)17:041997DetailsGreenville, SC(Furman)BYU100Stanford102Carrie Tollefson(Villanova)16:291998DetailsLawrence, KS(Kansas)Villanova106BYU110Katie McGregor(Michigan)16:47.211999DetailsBloomington, IN(Indiana)BYU72Arkansas125Erica Palmer(Wisconsin)16:39.5Race distance changes from 5,000 meters to 6,000 meters2000DetailsAmes, IA(Iowa State)Colorado117BYU167Kara Grgas-Wheeler(Colorado)20:30.52001DetailsGreenville, SC(Furman)BYU62NC State148Tara Chaplin(Arizona)20:242002DetailsTerre Haute, IN(Indiana State)BYU85Stanford113Shalane Flanagan(North Carolina)19:36.02003DetailsCedar Falls, IA(Northern Iowa)Stanford120BYU12819:30.42004DetailsTerre Haute, IN(Indiana State)Colorado63Duke144Kim Smith(Providence)20:08.52005DetailsStanford146Colorado181Johanna Nilsson(Northern Arizona)19:33.92006DetailsStanford195Colorado223Sally Kipyego(Texas Tech)20:11.12007DetailsStanford145Oregon17719:30.92008DetailsWashington79Oregon13119:28.12009DetailsVillanova86Florida State133Angela Bizzarri(Illinois)19:46.82010DetailsVillanova120Florida State154Sheila Reid(Villanova)20:06.92011DetailsGeorgetown162Washington17019:41.22012DetailsLouisville, KY(Louisville)Oregon114Providence183Betsy Saina(Iowa State)19:27.92013DetailsTerre Haute, IN(Indiana State)Providence141Arizona197Abbey D'Agostino(Dartmouth)20:00.32014DetailsMichigan State85Iowa State147Kate Avery(Iona)19:31.62015DetailsLouisville, KY(Louisville) New Mexico 49 Colorado 129Molly Seidel(Notre Dame) 19:28.62016DetailsTerre Haute, IN(Indiana State)Oregon 125Michigan126Karissa Schweizer(Missouri)19:41.72017DetailsLouisville, KY(Louisville)New Mexico90San Francisco105Ednah Kurgat(New Mexico)19:19.422018 DetailsMadison, WI(Wisconsin)Colorado65New Mexico103Dani Jones

(Colorado)19:42.82019 DetailsTerre Haute, IN(Indiana State)Arkansas96BYU102Weini Kelati (New Mexico)19:47.52020 DetailsStillwater, OK(Oklahoma State)BYU96NC State161Mercy ChelangatAlabama20:01.12021 DetailsTallahassee, FL(Florida State)NC State84BYU122Whittni Orton(BYU)19:25.42022 DetailsStillwater, OK(Oklahoma State)NC State114New Mexico140Katelyn Tuohy(NC State)19:27.72023 DetailsCharlottesville, VA(Virginia)NC State123Northern Arizona124Parker Valby(Florida)18:55.22024 DetailsMadison, WI(Wisconsin)BYU147West Virginia164 Doris Lemngole(Alabama)19:21.02025 DetailsColumbia, MO(Missouri)NC State114BYU130Doris Lemngole(Alabama)18:25.4†2026 DetailsTerre Haute, IN(Indiana State)2027 DetailsStillwater, OK(Oklahoma State) A time highlighted in ██ indicates an NCAA championship event record time for that distance at the time. A † indicates the all-time NCAA championship event record for that distance.

Champions Team titles List updated through the 2025 Championships.

Team Titles Year Won 9 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2009, 2010 6 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2020, 2024 5 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 4 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 4 1983, 1987, 2012, 2016 3 2000, 2004, 2018 2 2015, 2017 2 1995, 2013 2 1981, 1982 2 1984, 1985 1 2019 1 2011 1 1988 1 2014 1 1986 1 2008

Individual titles List updated through the 2025 Championships. Team Titles Year won 9 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2010, 2011 4 1981, 1983, 1985, 2022 3 2020, 2024, 2025 3 2006, 2007, 2008 3 1984, 1995, 1999 2 1996, 2001 2 2000, 2018 2 1987, 1988 2 2017, 2019 2 2002, 2003 2 1986, 2005 1 2021 1 2013 1 2023 1 2009 1 2014 1 2012 1 1998 1 2016 1 2015 1 2004 1 1982

Appearances List updated through the 2025 Championships.

Most team appearances (Top 15) Rank Team Appearances NC State 39 Stanford 38BYU Arkansas 37 Oregon 36 Michigan 34 Wisconsin Colorado 33 Georgetown 32 Villanova Providence Washington 31 Michigan State 26 Penn State Minnesota 22 Notre Dame

Records Best Team Score: 35 Virginia (1981; Eileen O'Connor–3, Lesley Welch–4, Lisa Welch–6, Jill Haworth–8, Marisa Schmitt–15) Most Individual Titles: 3 (tie) Sally Kipyego, Texas Tech (2006, 2007, and 2008) Best Individual Time, 5,000 meters: 15:59.86 Vicki Huber, Villanova (1989) Best Individual Time, 6,000 meters: 18:25.4 Doris Lemngole, Alabama (2025)

See also Pre-NCAA Cross Country Champions AIAW Intercollegiate Women's Cross Country Champions NCAA Women's Division II Cross Country Championship (from 1981) NCAA Women's Division III Cross Country Championship (from 1981) NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship (from 1938) NCAA Men's Division II Cross Country Championship (from 1958) NCAA Men's Division III Cross Country Championship (from 1973) NAIA Cross Country Championships (Men, Women)

References

External links NCAA Women's Cross Country NCAA Women's Cross Country Championship Results and Records