In Rodger Low's senior season, the JBU cross country and track and field programs would see the beginning of another record-setting career with the emergence of Roger Vann, who would carry the program's torch for the next four seasons.

Easily one of the top marathoners in program history, Vann would become the program's first-ever NAIA All-American in his junior and senior seasons.

As a sophomore, Vann held the team's fastest 2-mile time at 9:22.4 and owned a 2-hour, 27-minute marathon time, also a team-best. That season, Vann would set a new Arkansas marathon record at the Kansas Relays, shaving off over five minutes from the previous record. He would also set a new program record in the 6-mile.

Then in 1975 in Arkadelphia, Vann did something no other JBU track and field player had done to date, or since - win an individual NAIA National Championship. Not only did Vann earn the individual title, he ended Lucian Rosa's two-year championship reign in the marathon by turning in a time of 2:29:14.0.

In 1976, at the 6th Annual Dallas White Rock Marathon, Vann set a marathon program record that still stands to this day with a 2:26:50, which earned him second place in the prestigious meet.

Vann would go on to again land NAIA All-America accolades as a senior, compiling eight varsity letters between cross country and track and field, finishing his career as the only Golden Eagle in program history to stand atop the podium as National Champion.