TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Oregon’s Galen Rupp overtook Liberty’s Sam Chelanga to win the men’s NCAA cross-country title and the Ducks grabbed their second consecutive championship on Monday.

Oregon became the third program in the state with two national titles this decade, joining Oregon State’s baseball team (2006 and 2007) and the University of Portland’s women’s soccer team (2002 and 2005).

Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech won her third straight women’s title and top-ranked Washington captured the women’s championship.

Rupp, a member of the U.S. Olympic team in the 10,000 meters this summer, won in 29 minutes, 3.2 seconds — about 20 seconds better than his runner-up time in the 2007 championship race. Chelanga of Kenya jumped out to an early lead over Rupp, but finished 5 seconds behind in the 10,000-meter race.

“I heard somebody yell with 100 meters to go ‘don’t forget about last year,’” said Rupp. “It’s just so exciting to win and get the team trophy again. It feels really good.”

Rupp was prepared for Chelanga’s quick start.

“You know he’s been doing that all year. So, it wasn’t completely unexpected,” Rupp said. “I think going in, we knew it was a real possibility that he might do that. Coach just told me to sit back and not panic.”

Kipyego’s winning time of 19:28.1 in the 6,000-meter women’s race was nearly 7 seconds faster than second-place finisher Susan Kuijken of Florida State.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Kipyego, a senior. “I am absolutely happy for just being able to come here and win three in a row. It’s a blessing to me.”

Iona was runner-up to Oregon for the men’s title for the second straight year. The Oregon women’s team also finished second for a second consecutive year.

“It was a great day for the men; it was a great day for the women. All-around, it was a great day for the University of Oregon,” said Associate Director of Athletics Vin Lananna on the university’s Web site, www.goducks.com. “And Galen Rupp was just terrific. What a great young man and a wonderful national champion to represent our University.”

Rupp was one of three top-10 finishers for the men, as the No. 1-ranked Ducks pulled away for a 54-point victory over No. 7 Iona. Oregon tallied 93 points to Iona’s 147. No. 3 Stanford edged No. 4 Wisconsin for third 227-229.

Rupp became just the third Duck to win the NCAA cross country title. He joins Oregon legends Steve Prefontaine, the Marshfield standout who was a three-time winner in 1970-71 and 1973, and Alberto Salazar, who was the Ducks’ last individual champion in 1978. Rupp also collected his third career cross country All-America award and ninth overall, including track and field.

In addition to Rupp, the Duck men also counted All-American performances from Luke Puskedra, who ran fifth in 29:27.8 and was the meet’s top freshman finisher, and senior Shadrack Kiptoo-Biwott, who placed ninth in 29:43.4.

It was the sixth NCAA men’s cross country championship for the University of Oregon, and the school’s 15th NCAA team championship overall. It was also the Ducks’ first back-to-back titles since 1973-74. Oregon’s other NCAA cross country titles came in 1971, 1977 and 2007.

In the women’s race, No. 1 Washington won its first NCAA title with 79 points. Oregon was second with 131 points, a total that was a 46-point improvement over the Ducks’ 2007 mark. Florida State was third with 163 points, followed by West Virginia with 198 points and Princeton with 220 points to round out the top five.

Nicole Blood and Alexandra Kosinski led Oregon’s women. Running with the lead pack for much of the race, Kosinski finished eighth in 20:05 and Blood was 10th in 20:09.