Junior Emily Richards named Div. III USTFCCCA Women's National Athlete of the Week

By Caleb Scott

| USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week | 

ADA — Junior Emily Richards (Delaware/Hayes) has been named the Div. III United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Women's National Athlete of the Week, released Apr. 18.

Richards garnered the honor for the second time during the outdoor season.

The junior posted historic performance this past weekend at the Mt. Sac Relays and Beach Invitational in California.

Richards opened the weekend at the Mt. Sac Relays where she claimed the 800-meter run title in a Div. I-dominated field and ran the fastest time in Div. III history, finishing the event in 2:02.34.

She would turn around and compete in the Beach Invitational the following day, where she won the 1,500-meter run and ran the sixth fastest time in Div. III history in the event, finishing in 4:21.19.

Both of Richards' times are the fastest time nationally among Div. III athletes and are both new school records.

Richards and teammate Matt Molinaro became the first duo to sweep both the men's and women's honors this season and also became the first teammates in Ohio Northern history to ever sweep the awards.

The Polar Bears return to action Saturday, Apr. 22 as they host the annual Polar Bear Invitational at Kerscher Stadium.