| 1973 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships | |
| Organisers: | NCAA |
| Edition: | 35th |
| Date: | November 19, 1973 |
| Host City: | Spokane, Washington (Washington State University) |
| Athletes Participating: | 210 |
| Distances: | 6miles |
| Previous: | 1972 |
| Next: | 1974 |
The 1973 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were the 35th 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 it was hosted by Washington State University at Hangman Valley Golf Course, near Spokane, Washington.[1] [2]
The distance for this race was 6miles, and the approximate average elevation was above sea level. The temperature during the race was .
The team national championship was won by the Oregon Ducks, their second title.[1] [2]
The individual championship was won by Oregon's Steve Prefontaine, with a time of 28:14.80.[1] This was Prefontaine's third individual title in four years.[2] Along with Gerry Lindgren (1966, 1967, and 1969) and Henry Rono (1976, 1977, and 1979), both from Washington State, Prefontaine is one of only three Division I collegiate runners with three individual titles. [3]
Washington State hosted the championship again four years later in 1977, also at Hangman Valley, south of the city.
All Division I members were eligible to qualify for the meet. In total, 22 teams and 210 individual runners contested this championship.[4] This was the first championship after the NCAA rebranded the former University Division as Division I in 1973. On a related note, the inaugural NCAA Men's Division III Cross Country Championship was held this year at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.
| Rank | Team | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 89 | ||
| 157 | |||
| 166 | |||
| 174 | |||
| 198 | |||
| 204 | |||
| 247 | |||
| 251 | |||
| 253 | |||
| 254 |