N.C.A.A. Division I National Champions
Women's Outdoor 5000-Meter Run
| Year | Name | School | Performance |
| 2011 | Sheila Reid | Villanova | 15:37.57 |
| 2010 | Lisa Koll | Iowa State | 15:23.80 |
| 2009 | Angela Bizzari | Illinois | 16:17.94 |
| 2008 | Sally Kipyego | Texas Tech | 15:15.08 |
| 2007 | Michelle Sikes | Wake Forest | 15:16.76 |
| 2006 | Mary Cullen | Providence | 16:01.39 |
| 2005 | Megan Metcalfe | West Virginia | 16:31.88 |
| 2004 | Kim Smith | Providence | 15:48.86 |
| 2003 | Lauren Fleshman | Stanford | 15:24.06 |
| 2002 | Lauren Fleshman | Stanford | 15:53.91 |
| 2001 | Lauren Fleshman | Stanford | 15:52.21 |
| 2000 | Kara Wheeler | Colorado | 15:54.30 |
| 1999 | Carrie Tollefson | Villanova | 16:09.51 |
| 1998 | Amy Skieresz | Arizona | 15:37.77 |
| 1997 | Amy Skieresz | Arizona | 15:46.76 |
| 1996 | Jennifer Rhines | Villanova | 16:05.85 |
| 1995 | Jennifer Rhines | Villanova | 15:56.18 |
| 1994 | Jennifer Rhines | Villanova | 16:21.60 |
| 1993 | Kay Gooch | Oklahoma | 16:31.02 |
| 1992 | Monique Ecker | Oklahoma | 16:18.72 |
| 1991 | Laurie Gomez | North Carolina State | 16:07.96 |
| 1990 | Valerie McGovern | Kentucky | 15:45.72 |
| 1989 | Valerie McGovern | Kentucky | 16:17.20 |
| 1988 | Annette Hand | Oregon | 15:38.47 |
| 1987 | Annie Schweitzer | Texas | 15:46.00 |
| 1986 | Stephanie Herbst | Wisconsin | 15:42.36 |
| 1985 | Sabrina Dornhoefer | Missouri | 15:42.22 |
| 1984 | Patti Sue Plumer | Stanford | 15:39.38 |
| 1983 | Betty Jo Springs | North Carolina State | 15:51.97 |
| 1982 | Kathy Bryant | Tennessee | 16:10.41 |
