Cross country running is a sport in which teams and individuals run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain such as dirt or grass. The course, typically 3–12 kilometres (1.9–7.5 mi) long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road and minor obstacles. It is both an individual and a team sport; runners are judged on individual times and teams by a points-scoring method. Both men and women of all ages compete in cross country, which usually takes place during autumn and winter, and can include weather conditions of rain, sleet, snow or hail, and a wide range of temperatures.
The NCAA Division III men's cross country championships are contested at an annual cross country meet hosted by the NCAA to decide the team and individual national champions of men's intercollegiate cross country running among its Division III members in the United States. It has been held every fall, usually in November, since the NCAA split into its current three-division format in 1973.
The NCAA Division II women's cross country championships are contested at an annual cross country meet hosted by the NCAA to decide the team and individual national champions of women's intercollegiate cross country running among its Division II members in the United States and Canada.
The NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship is the cross country championship held by the National Collegiate Athletic Association each autumn for individual runners and cross country teams from universities in Division I. Teams and individual runners qualify for the championship at regional competitions approximately a week before the national championships. The championship has been held annually since 1981. The reigning national champions are the NC State Wolfpack.
The 1978 NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country Championships were the 40th annual cross country meet to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's collegiate cross country running in the United States. Held on November 20, 1978, the meet was hosted by the University of Wisconsin–Madison at the Yahara Hills Golf Course in Madison, Wisconsin. The distance for this race was 10 kilometers.
The 1981 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were the 43rd annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 1st annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States. For the first time, a women's national championship was held alongside the men's meet. In all, four different titles were contested: men's and women's individual and team championships.
The 1982 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were the 44th annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 2nd annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States. In all, four different titles were contested: men's and women's individual and team championships.
The 1983 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were the 45th annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 3rd annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States. In all, four different titles were contested: men's and women's individual and team championships.
The 1984 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were the 46th annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 4th annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States. In all, four different titles were contested: men's and women's individual and team championships.
The 1985 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were the 47th annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 5th annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States. In all, four different titles were contested: men's and women's individual and team championships.
The 1986 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were the 48th annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 6th annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States. In all, four different titles were contested: men's and women's individual and team championships.
The 1987 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were the 49th annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 7th annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States. In all, four different titles were contested: men's and women's individual and team championships.
The 1988 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were the 50th annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 8th annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States. In all, four different titles were contested: men's and women's individual and team championships.
The 1989 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were the 51st annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 9th annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States. In all, four different titles were contested: men's and women's individual and team championships.
The 2017 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships was the 79th annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 37th annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States. In all, four different titles will be contested: men's and women's individual and team championships.
The 2018 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships was the 80th annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 38th annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States. In all, four different titles were contested: men's and women's individual and team championships.
The 2019 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships was the 62nd annual NCAA Men's Division II Cross Country Championship and the 39th annual NCAA Women's Division II Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division II men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States. In all, four different titles were contested: men's and women's individual and team championships. Results were track and field results reporting system. In the men's 10k, Ezra Mutai of American International College took home the individual title in 29:31.2, while Colorado School of Mines won the team title, scoring 57 points and defeating second-placed Adams State University (136) and third-placed California State University, Chico (143). In the women's 6k, Stephanie Cotter of the Adams State University won the individual title in 19:15.5, while Adams State University won the team title with 23 points, beating second-placed Grand Valley State University (87) and third-placed Colorado School of Mines (133).
The 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships was the 83rd edition of the annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 41st annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States.
The 2022 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships was the 84th annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 42nd annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship to determine the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States.
The 2023 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were the 85th annual NCAA Men's Division I Cross Country Championship and the 43rd annual NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship, and determined the team and individual national champions of NCAA Division I men's and women's collegiate cross country running in the United States.
Madison, Wisconsin 
