N.A.I.A. National Champions
Men's Outdoor 5,000-Meter Run
| Year | Name | School | Performance |
| 2011 | Paul Chelimo | Shorter (GA) | 14:05.88 |
| 2010 | Kennedy Kithuka | Wayland Baptist (TX) | 13:56.92 |
| 2009 | Carison Kemei | McKendree (IL) | 14:27.63 |
| 2008 | Aron Rono | Azusa Pacific (CA) | 14:23.81 |
| 2007 | David Cheromei | Virginia Intermont | 14:31.31 |
| 2006 | David Cheromei | Virginia Intermont | 14:26.82 |
| 2005 | Fernando Cabada | Virginia Intermont | 14:42.08 |
| 2004 | Richard Mosley | Simon Fraser (BC) | 14:35.07 |
| 2003 | Jerry Ziak | British Columbia | 14:50.15 |
| 2002 | Josephat Boit | Central Methodist (MO) | 14:25.67 |
| 2001 | Alexis Sharangabo | Brevard (NC) | 14:20.33 |
| 2000 | Francis Kirwa | Life (GA) | 13:53.30 |
| 1999 | Sammy Nyamongo | Life (GA) | 14:17.54 |
| 1998 | Silah Misoi | Life (GA) | 13:53.48 |
| 1997 | Silah Misoi | Life (GA) | 13:51.07 |
| 1996 | Gray Mavhera | California Baptist | 14:25.73 |
| 1995 | Simeon Sawe | Lubbock Christian (TX) | 14:08.55 |
| 1994 | Eluid Bargntuny | Missouri Valley (MO) | 14:07.58 |
| 1993 | Julius Randich | Lubbock Christian (TX) | 13:41.81 |
| 1992 | James Bungei | Lubbock Christian (TX) | 14:07.11 |
| 1991 | James Bungei | Lubbock Christian (TX) | 14:07.59 |
| 1990 | David Kogo | Lubbock Christian (TX) | 14:27.83 |
| 1989 | Juan Diaz | Western State (CO) | 14:21.12 |
| 1988 | Eduardo Navas | Western State (CO) | 14:08.65 |
| 1987 | Paul Aufdemberge | Hillsdale (MI) | 14:09.2 |
| 1986 | Robert Ferguson | Adams State (CO) | 14:20.18 |
| 1985 | Robbie Hipwood | Adams State (CO) | 14:34.61 |
| 1984 | Sam Montoya | Adams State (CO) | 14:12.37 |
| 1983 | Mike Maraun | Simon Fraser (BC) | 14:16.78 |
| 1982 | Garry Henry | Pembroke State (NC) | 14:13.05 |
| 1981 | Dave Finnestad | Malone (OH) | 14:33.80 |
| 1980 | Sammy Maritim | Azusa Pacific (CA) | 14:34.19 |
| 1979 | Sammy Maritim | Azusa Pacific (CA) | 14:24.6 |
| 1978 | Garry Henry | Pembroke State (NC) | 14:23.25 |
| 1977 | John Muthama | Bethel (KS) | 14:08.46 |
| 1976 | John Muthama | Bethel (KS) | 14:04.44 |
| 1975 | John Muthama | Bethel (KS) | 13:40.47* |
| 1974 | Mike Boit | Eastern New Mexico | 13:35.5* |
| 1973 | Tommy Fulton | Texas Southern | 13:33.3* |
| 1972 | Tommy Fulton | Texas Southern | 14:35.8 |
| 1971 | Gordon Minty | Eastern Michigan | 13:46.3* |
| 1970 | Rex Maddaford | Eastern New Mexico | 13:56.3* |
| 1969 | Dave Ellis | Eastern Michigan | 13:55.2* |
| 1968 | Dave Ellis | Eastern Michigan | 14:25.6 |
| 1967 | Van Nelson | St. Cloud State (MN) | 13:29.7* |
| 1966 | Van Nelson | St. Cloud State (MN) | 13:51.0* |
| 1965 | Lloyd Burson | Western New Mexico | 13:45.8* |
| 1964 | John Camien | Emporia State (KS) | 14:25.0 |
| 1963 | Jim Keefe | Central Connecticut | 14:01.3* |
| 1962 | Jim Keefe | Central Connecticut | 14:11.4* |
| 1961 | Ian Stewart | Lamar Tech (TX) | 14:18.7* |
| 1960 | Ian Stewart | Lamar Tech (TX) | 14:51.3 |
| 1959 | Paul Whiteley | Emporia State (KS) | 9:06.0# |
| 1958 | Don Sheppard | Howard Payne (TX) | 9:05.5# |
| 1957 | John Kerr | Occidental (CA) | 9:19.5# |
| 1956 | Dave Peterson | South Dakota State | 15:12.6 |
| 1955 | Clayton Scott | Kearney State (NE) | 9:28.4# |
| 1954 | Clayton Scott | Kearney State (NE) | 9:36.3# |
| 1953 | Allen Feist | Fort Hays State (KS) | 9:47.6# |
| 1952 | Javier Montez | Texas Western | 9:24.8# |
