▁Championships ▁were ▁the ▁ 1 3 th ▁annual ▁cross ▁country ▁meet ▁to ▁determine ▁the ▁team ▁and ▁individual ▁national ▁champions ▁of ▁men ' s ▁colleg iate ▁cross ▁country ▁running ▁in ▁the ▁United ▁States . ▁ ▁Since ▁the ▁current ▁multi - div ision ▁format ▁for ▁NCAA ▁championship ▁did ▁not ▁begin ▁until ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁all ▁NCAA ▁members ▁were ▁el ig ible . ▁In ▁total , ▁ 2 3 ▁teams ▁and ▁ 1 2 2 ▁individual ▁run ners ▁cont ested ▁this ▁championship . ▁ ▁The ▁meet ▁was ▁hosted ▁by ▁Michigan ▁State ▁College ▁on ▁November ▁ 2 6 , ▁ 1 9 5 1 , ▁at ▁the ▁Forest ▁Ak ers ▁East ▁G olf ▁Cour se ▁in ▁East ▁L ans ing , ▁Michigan . ▁The ▁distance ▁for ▁the ▁race ▁was ▁ 4 ▁miles ▁( 6 . 4 ▁kilom eters ). ▁ ▁The ▁team ▁national ▁championship ▁was ▁won ▁by ▁the ▁Sy rac use ▁Or ang emen , ▁their ▁first . ▁The ▁individual ▁championship ▁was ▁retained ▁by ▁Her b ▁Sem per , ▁from ▁Kansas , ▁with ▁a ▁time ▁of ▁ 2 0 : 0 9 . 7 4 . ▁ ▁Men ' s ▁title ▁Dist ance : ▁ 4 ▁miles ▁( 6 . 4 ▁kilom eters ) ▁ ▁Team ▁Result ▁( Top ▁ 1 0 ) ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁Category : N CAA ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Championships ▁NCAA ▁Men ' s ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Championships ▁NCAA ▁Men ' s ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Championships ▁Category : E ast ▁L ans ing , ▁Michigan ▁NCAA ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Category : Nov ember ▁