Former ONU star Emily Richards set to compete at USATF Outdoor Championships
By Bud Denega
ADA — Nine-time NCAA national champion Emily Richards is set to compete on the national stage, once again. The former Ohio Northern star will race in the 800-meter run at the USATF Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday at 7:22 p.m. EST.
Richards — who is affiliated with HOKA NJNYTC — will enter the 800 with the ninth-fastest mark of 2:00.67. Ajee Wilson holds the fastest qualifying time of 1:56.45. The top three in each preliminary heat and the next four fastest times advance to the semifinals Friday at 7:18 p.m. The top four in each semifinal heat reach the finals scheduled for Sunday at 8:12 p.m.
NBC Sports Gold will stream Thursday's events live beginning at 1:45 p.m. NBC Sports Gold will stream Friday's action beginning at 1:30 p.m., while NBCSN will televise the events Friday from 7-9 p.m. NBC Sports Gold will stream the competition Sunday beginning at 4 p.m., NBCSN will televise it from 7-8 p.m. and NBC will televise it from 8-9 p.m.
This marks the third consecutive year that Richards will compete at the USATF Outdoor Championships. She placed seventh in the second semifinal race last season, clocking in at 2:02.78. Richards advanced to the finals in 2017, placing eighth with a time of 2:01.74.
Richards is a nine-time NCAA national champion, a 13-time NCAA All-American and holds the Division III record in the 800-meter run.