Justyn Knight wins first NCAA cross-country individual title
The Canadian wins the NCAA individual title that had eluded him in past years on Saturday at the division one cross-country championships

In his final shot at the NCAA Division One Cross-Country Championships, Canadian Justyn Knight was able to secure his first individual D1 title.
The Toronto native, who runs for Syracuse, was in second entering the final stretch in Louisville, Ky. before kicking past Northern Arizona’s Matthew Baxter to win the 10K in 29:00.11. Knight finished second in 2016 and won the NCAA Division One – the top tier in American university athletics – team title with Syracuse in 2015.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BbpMQb7grfO/
Before the kick…
? @B_Sotelo13 pic.twitter.com/cTyXsDBk4O— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) November 18, 2017
Knight was in the lead pack for the entirety of the race though didn’t front-run until the final straightaway. Three runners – Knight, Baxter and another NAU runner, Tyler Day – were clear of the field in the final K. The margin of victory over Baxter, who led from 8K until the home stretch, was a mere 0.67 seconds.
That champion smile. Congrats, @justyn_knight pic.twitter.com/7EUn679G8d
— Syracuse XC/Track (@CuseXCTF) November 18, 2017
The win on Saturday capped off an undefeated fall cross-country season for Knight, a cross-country senior, following a summer in which he represented Canada at the 2017 IAAF World Championships making it to the finals of the men’s 5,000m.
Highlights
Watch @justyn_knight win a National title in one minute pic.twitter.com/6A7wqB83Th
— Syracuse XC/Track (@CuseXCTF) November 18, 2017
Knight improved his results at the NCAA Division One Cross-Country Championships each year he raced. In 2014, he was 143rd. Then fourth. Then second in 2016 before winning in 2017.
KNIGHT FTW! #ncaaXC on @Flotrack pic.twitter.com/OOzohXfYdn
— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) November 18, 2017
Justyn Knight wins his first NCAA title with a crushing kick! What a run for the undefeated @CuseXCTF senior! #NCAAXC pic.twitter.com/avlUuTPo1x
— USTFCCCA (@USTFCCCA) November 18, 2017
He's the first to say he's a mama's boy. J-?and his family are enjoying this one pic.twitter.com/N2jQna2Yhk
— Syracuse XC/Track (@CuseXCTF) November 18, 2017
Knight’s individual NCAA cross-country title was the first for a Canadian since Sheila Reid, who ran for Villanova, won back-to-back championships in 2010 and 2011. Simon Bairu, then racing for Wisconsin, was the last Canadian man before Knight to win the NCAA Division One Cross-Country Championships 10K, which he accomplished in 2004 and 2005.