| Smallest Victory Margins | ||
| Margin | Year | Winner & Runner-up |
| 0.6 secs | 2011 | Sheila Reid (Vill) 19:41.2; Jordan Hasay (Or) 19:41.8 |
| 0.7 secs | 2012 | Betsy Saina (IaSt) 19:27.9; Abbey D’Agostino (Dart) 19:28.6 |
| 2.3 secs | 2010 | Sheila Reid (Vill) 20:06.9; Emily Infeld (Gtn) 20:09.2 |
| 2.5 secs | 2018 | Dani Jones (Co) 19:42.8; Weini Kelati (NM) 19:45.3 |
| 2.6 secs | 2016 | Karissa Schweizer (Mn) 19:41.6; Erin Finn (Michigan) 19:44.2 |
| 3.2 secs | 2022 | Katelyn Tuohy (NC State) 19:27.7; Parker Valby (Florida) 19:30.9 |
| 3.6 secs | 2013 | Abbey D’Agostino (Dart) 20:00.3; Emma Bates (Boise St) 20:03.9 |
| 3.9 secs | 2021 | Whittni Orton (BYU) 19:25.4; Mercy Chelangat (Alabama) 19:29.3 |
| 4 secs | 1988 | Michelle Dekkers (In) 16:30; Tina Ljungberg (UTEP) 16:34 |
| 4 secs | 1995 | Kathy Butler (Wi) 16:51; Amy Skieresz (Az) 16:55 |
| 4.1 secs | 1993 | Carole Zajac (Vill) 16:40.3; Jen Rhines (Vill) 16:44.4 |
| 4.5 secs | 1983 | Betty Springs (NCSt) 16:30.7; Nan Doak (Iowa) 16:35.2 |
| 4.6 secs | 1991 | Sonia O’Sullivan (Vill) 16:30.3; Carole Zajac (Vill) 16:34.9 |