Nicodemus Naimadu didn’t miss his final curtain call as the NCAA’s most successful cross country runner ever, and his Abilene Christian teammates joined him as titlists at the Division II Men’s Cross Country Championships.

Naimadu became the Association’s first four-time cross country individual titlist as Abilene Christian claimed its second straight team title by seven points.

Naimadu surpassed a trio of Division I three-time champions — Oregon’s Steve Prefontaine and Washington State’s Gerry Lindgren and Henry Rono — as well as Division III triple winner Missy Buttry of Wartburg in racing to a nearly half-minute victory over Adams State’s Aaron Braun in individual competition.

The record win came after Naimadu’s recovery from a knee injury that resulted in him sitting out both the Lone Star Conference championships and the South Central regional meet. He came back strong as the only runner to finish the November 17 race at Missouri Southern State’s 10,000-meter course in under 30 minutes.

“The move he made with about a mile left in the race was unbelievable. He really put on a display,” said Abilene Christian coach Derek Hood. “Nicodemus has such a big heart. He had to endure so much this year. During the last four or five weeks he trained so hard to be able to achieve this goal and to overcome injuries.”

Joining Naimadu as top-six finishers in individual competition were teammates Julius Nyango in third place and Serge Gasore in sixth place. However, runners-up and cross-state rivals Western State (Colorado) and Adams State, whose Aaron Braun finished second individually, combined to make Abilene Christian's margin of victory the narrowest in a decade.

By then, though, the spotlight was on Naimadu, who also has won eight individual titles in indoor and outdoor track. The native of Kenya ran in a pack through much of the race before pulling away late for his appointment with history.

“I knew I had to stay with the leaders; I couldn’t let them get away from me,” he said. “They set an early fast pace. I just did my best to stay near the front. It was a very competitive race. When I moved ahead with a mile or more to go and nobody came with me, I believed I would win.”

Grand Valley State placed fourth in team competition, matching its best-ever finish, while Minnesota State Mankato posted its 16th top-five finish in its 41st appearance at the national meet.

Team results
1. Abilene Christian, 59; 2. (tie) Western St. (Colo.) and Adams St., 66; 4. Grand Valley St., 152; 5. Minn. St. Mankato, 185; 6. Cal St. Chico, 197; 7. Colorado Mines, 228; 8. Southern Ind., 240; 9. Slippery Rock, 274; 10. N.M. Highlands, 284; 11. Western Wash., 303; 12. Mo. Southern St., 304; 13. Mass.-Lowell, 331; 14. Edinboro, 346; 15. Queens (N.C.), 353; 16. Northern Ky., 411; 17. Pittsburg St., 433; 18. Stonehill, 434; 19. Wayne St. (Mich.), 442; 20. UC San Diego, 467; 21. Fla. Southern, 541; 22. Tampa, 602; 23. Mars Hill, 611; 24. Ala.-Huntsville, 616.

Individual results
1. Nicodemus Naimadu, Abilene Christian, 29:39.7; 2. Aaron Braun, Adams St., 30:05.6; 3. Julius Nyango, Abilene Christian, 30:06.2; 4. Reuben Mwei, Adams St., 30:09.5; 5. Daniel Kanyaruhuru, Queens (N.C.), 30:15.3; 6. Serge Gasore, Abilene Christian, 30:19.5; 7. Nate Peck, Grand Valley St., 30:24.7; 8. Evans Kigen, NYIT, 30:30.6; 9. Brian Medigovich, Adams St., 30:31.0; 10. Scott Dahlberg, Western St. (Colo.), 30:31.6.

Team results
1. Abilene Christian, 59; 2. Western St. (Colo.), 66; 3. Adams St., 66; 4. Grand Valley St., 152; 5. Minn. St. Mankato, 185; 6. Cal St. Chico, 197; 7. Colorado Mines, 228; 8. Southern Ind., 240; 9. Slippery Rock, 274; 10. N.M. Highlands, 284; 11. Western Wash., 303; 12. Mo. Southern St., 304; 13. Mass.-Lowell, 331; 14. Edinboro, 346; 15. Queens (N.C.), 353; 16. Northern Ky., 411; 17. Pittsburg St., 433; 18. Stonehill, 434; 19. Wayne St. (Mich.), 442; 20. UC San Diego, 467; 21. Fla. Southern, 541; 22. Tampa, 602; 23. Mars Hill, 611; 24. Ala.-Huntsville, 616.

Individual results
1. Nicodemus Naimadu, Abilene Christian, 29:39.7; 2. Aaron Braun, Adams St., 30:05.6; 3. Julius Nyango, Abilene Christian, 30:06.2; 4. Reuben Mwei, Adams St., 30:09.5; 5. Daniel Kanyaruhuru, Queens (N.C.), 30:15.3; 6. Serge Gasore, Abilene Christian, 30:19.5; 7. Nate Peck, Grand Valley St., 30:24.7; 8. Evans Kigen, NYIT, 30:30.6; 9. Brian Medigovich, Adams St., 30:31.0; 10. Scott Dahlberg, Western St. (Colo.), 30:31.6.

11. Laurent Ngirakamaro, N.M. Highlands, 30:35.0; 12. Pat Reagan, Slippery Rock, 30:37.3; 13. Iain Donnan, Western St. (Colo.), 30:42.2; 14. Aaron Clark, Western St. (Colo.), 30:43.6; 15. Denise Mokaya, Minn. St. Mankato, 30:44.5; 16. Kim Hogarth, Western St. (Colo.), 30:45.4; 17. Tim Sirbek, Southern Ind., 30:57.0; 18. Tyler Pennel, Western St. (Colo.), 30:58.2; 19. James Cheruiyot, Harding, 31:01.6; 20. Brendan Scanlon, Cal St. Chico, 31:02.6.

21. Paul Jellema, Southern Ind., 31:10.4; 22. Ryan McNiff, Adams St., 31:13.0; 23. Dustin Dixon, Mo. Southern St., 31:13.2; 24. Ruben Sanca, Mass.-Lowell, 31:13.7; 25. Robbie Young, Grand Valley St., 31:16.4; 26. David Kiplagat, Alas. Anchorage, 31:16.5; 27. Michael Pierce, Southwest Baptist, 31:17.1; 28. Chad Roberts, Tiffin, 31:17.4; 29. Philip Birgen, Abilene Christian, 31:18.4; 30. Amos Sang, Abilene Christian, 31:18.8.

31. Chris Cummings, Mansfield, 31:27.2; 32. Zach Koehler, Northern Ky., 31:28.1; 33. James Krajsa, Minn. St. Mankato, 31:32.5; 34. Josh Arthur, Edinboro, 31:33.9; 35. Isaac Garcia, Mo. Southern St., 31:35.4; 36. Chris Hammer, Grand Valley St., 31:36.2; 37. Jeff Weiss, Slippery Rock, 31:36.6; 38. Nick Lara, Adams St., 31:39.4; 39. Ben Zywicki, Colorado Mines, 31:39.8; 40. Ryan Connelly, Queens (N.C.), 31:39.9.

41. Jeff Stuckenbroker, Minn. St. Mankato, 31:44.1; 42. John Ronoh, N.M. Highlands, 31:45.4; 43. Bennett Grimes, Western Wash., 31:46.5; 44. Grant Fall, Grand Valley St., 31:47.6; 45. Michael Rooney, Colorado Mines, 31:48.2; 46. John Riak, St. Martin’s, 31:49.1; 47. Tim Tollefson, Cal St. Chico, 31:51.4; 48. Angel Marquez, Cal St. Chico, 31:55.8; 49. Matt Bluman, Slippery Rock, 31:55.9; 50. Aaron Swift, Colorado Mines, 31:57.0.

51. Daniel Phillips, Western Wash., 31:57.6; 52. John Tallerday, Colorado Mines, 31:58.3; 53. David Fuentes, St. Edward’s, 31:59.3; 54. Jordan Page, Cal St. Chico, 32:00.4; 55. Lewis Martin, Lees-McRae, 32:09.8; 56. David Chirchir, N.M. Highlands, 32:10.4; 57. Emmanuel Kirwa, Benedict, 32:10.8; 58. Jordan Welling, Western Wash., 32:11.1; 59. Ryan Arthur, Mo. Southern St., 32:12.1; 60. Benjamin Klungtvedt, Minn. St. Mankato, 32:12.7.

61. Eric Brenner, Edinboro, 32:13.3; 62. Manny Mejia, Cal St. Chico, 32:15.7; 63. Rey Alvarez, Southern Ind., 32:16.4; 64. James Gale, Grand Valley St., 32:17.0; 65. Nick Krus, Saginaw Valley, 32:17.0; 66. Abdullah Saleh, Wayne St. (Mich.), 32:17.5; 67. Jayce Watson, Wingate, 32:18.8; 68. Anthony Luna, Metro St., 32:19.8; 69. David Metzger, Stonehill, 32:20.3; 70. Ross Faasse, Grand Valley St., 32:23.9.

71. Barry McLaughlin, Edinboro, 32:25.2; 72. Jesse Merkel, Minn. St. Mankato, 32:25.6; 73. David Kemei, N.M. Highlands, 32:28.0; 74. Angus McDonald, Mass.-Lowell, 32:28.7; 75. Mason Stout, Pittsburg St., 32:30.8; 76. Kevin Gill, Stonehill, 32:33.2; 77. Ryan Wilbur, Western St. (Colo.), 32:33.5; 78. Dustin Whitlow, Mars Hill, 32:35.6; 79. Breen Sam, Wayne St. (Mich.), 32:36.5; 80. Sam Scotchmer, Central Wash., 32:36.9.

81. Nao Asano, West Ga., 32:37.2; 82. Jonathan Stoltman, Minn. St. Mankato, 32:37.9; 83. Nate Preston, Wayne St. (Neb.), 32:38.6; 84. Eric Cooper, West Va. Wesleyan, 32:38.6; 85. Daniel Liechty, Colorado Mines, 32:38.9; 86. Drew Harris, Northern Ky., 32:39.6; 87. Tristan Mannix, Southern Ind., 32:41.7; 88. Antonio Martinez-Lopez, Adams St., 32:43.2; 89. Jason Dedonato, Mass.-Lowell, 32:45.2; 90. Tyler Rasmussen, Western St. (Colo.), 32:46.0.

91. Brandon York, Ala.-Huntsville, 32:46.4; 92. Chris Geddis, Slippery Rock, 32:48.2; 93. Ben Martucci, Fla. Southern, 32:51.3; 94. Michael Wickman, Cal St. Chico, 32:51.6; 95. Tim Guerin, Mass.-Lowell, 32:52.1; 96. Jesse Morrill, UC San Diego, 32:52.7; 97. Josh Coberley, Pittsburg St., 32:53.6; 98. Stephan Ramirez, Bentley, 32:53.7; 99. Marius Koksvik, Queens (N.C.), 32:54.3; 100. Andrew Dixon, Southern Ind., 32:56.5.

101. Jon Skelton, Western Wash., 32:57.3; 102. Greg Geldman, UC San Diego, 32:58.5; 103. Brandon Campbell, Southern Ind., 32:59.9; 104. William Koeppel, Fla. Southern, 33:00.7; 105. Mitch Cooper, St. Andrews, 33:01.6; 106. Tim Testa, Pittsburg St., 33:02.9; 107. Brennon Benkert, Mo. Southern St., 33:03.4; 108. Nick Polk, Grand Valley St., 33:03.4; 109. Dan Ristau, Minn. St. Mankato, 33:03.6; 110. Anthony Tomsich, Western Wash., 33:04.4.

111. Mujahid Hassaballa, Pittsburg St., 33:04.6; 112. Giacomo Butler, Adams St., 33:05.4; 113. Jake Levieux, UC San Diego, 33:05.9; 114. Dan Field, Edinboro, 33:10.4; 115. Matthew Shoulta, Northern Ky., 33:11.4; 116. David Forry, Tampa, 33:12.1; 117. Jack Kilcommons, Mass.-Lowell, 33:15.6; 118. Kevin Christensen, Wayne St. (Mich.), 33:16.1; 119. Kevin Klein, UC San Diego, 33:17.4; 120. Abraham Kiprotich, Morehouse, 33:18.6.

121. Matt Meagher, Stonehill, 33:20.3; 122. Dan Kapadia, Wayne St. (Mich.), 33:20.5; 123. Joe Ryan, Stonehill, 33:22.8; 124. Keith Knapp, Northern Ky., 33:25.5; 125. Philipe Araujo, Queens (N.C.), 33:27.7; 126. Winston Curry, Mars Hill, 33:30.2; 127. Tony Nicolosi, Tampa, 33:32.6; 128. Joe King, Southern Ind., 33:35.9; 129. Jordan Fairley, Cal St. Chico, 33:42.1; 130. Gabe Lamothe, UC San Diego, 33:43.3.

131. Keith Gill, Stonehill, 33:45.9; 132. Brad Jochems, Pittsburg St., 33:48.2; 133. Matt Hockenjos, Tampa, 33:48.5; 134. Dave Niemira, Edinboro, 33:49.6; 135. George Walton, Slippery Rock, 33:51.0; 136. Ryne Smith, Northern Ky., 33:53.0; 137. Kyle Davis, Mo. Southern St., 33:56.5; 138. Lief Thomason, Fla. Southern, 33:58.3; 139. Josh Zubler, Edinboro, 33:58.8; 140. Chris Tassen, Wayne St. (Mich.), 33:59.0.

141. Clifton Oertli, Colorado Mines, 33:59.6; 142. Blake Medhaug, Western Wash., 34:01.8; 143. Mark Temple, Ala.-Huntsville, 34:02.4; 144. Nathan Milles, Ala.-Huntsville, 34:04.0; 145. Eric Brown, Abilene Christian, 34:06.7; 146. David Cox, Pittsburg St., 34:12.4; 147. Andrew Martucci, Fla. Southern, 34:13.8; 148. Bryan Armbrust, Queens (N.C.), 34:14.9; 149. Sean Cusick, Colorado Mines, 34:15.9; 150. Matt Seifert, Pittsburg St., 34:21.2.

151. Joey Gallegos, N.M. Highlands, 34:21.3; 152. Derek Wright, Mo. Southern St., 34:23.0; 153. Daniel Anderson, UC San Diego, 34:25.2; 154. Luke Beevor, Fla. Southern, 34:29.0; 155. Dave Lucas, Wayne St. (Mich.), 34:30.6; 156. Brad Bullock, Northern Ky., 34:31.7; 157. Jeremy Lautzenheiser, Tampa, 34:34.0; 158. Keith Lemay, Western Wash., 34:34.0; 159. Ben Hahn, Edinboro, 34:36.0; 160. Daniel Dunn, Fla. Southern, 34:37.0.

161. Mark Morelli, Slippery Rock, 34:37.2; 162. Pat Webster, Wayne St. (Mich.), 34:40.7; 163. Josh Moshier, Ala.-Huntsville, 34:44.2; 164. Kit Powell, Mars Hill, 34:52.3; 165. Max Mullender, UC San Diego, 34:53.4; 166. Nick Norton, Queens (N.C.), 34:58.8; 167. Trey McCain, Mars Hill, 35:01.5; 168. Kevin Lane, Tampa, 35:20.0; 169. William Mikolacjzak, Mars Hill, 35:25.7; 170. Richard Gerry, Stonehill, 35:27.3.

171. Justin Baker, Mars Hill, 35:28.1; 172. Will Rodgers, Ala.-Huntsville, 35:33.9; 173. Dustin Miller, Mo. Southern St., 35:36.0; 174. Chris Catanach, Tampa, 35:41.8; 175. Sean Allan, Ala.-Huntsville, 35:45.5; 176. David Webster, Abilene Christian, 35:56.1; 177. Adam Stoppelwerth, Northern Ky., 36:07.4; 178. Eric Maldonado, N.M. Highlands, 36:14.2; 179. Zach Koch, Ala.-Huntsville, 36:19.0; 180. Gordon Wright, Tampa, 36:35.1.

181. Josh Andrews, Stonehill, 36:42.8; 182. Aaron Thomas, Mars Hill, 37:35.3; 183. John Blackburn, Fla. Southern, 37:55.2; 184. Will Jarmeko-Wright, N.M. Highlands, 38:41.4; 185. David Durrie, Queens (N.C.), 40:29.7; 186. Joey Dewitt, Mass.-Lowell, (Did Not Finish); 187. Steven Dewitt, Mass.-Lowell, (Did Not Finish).