By Tim Glon

Ohio Northern junior Allie Gast and sophomores Matt Molinaro and Emily Richards had solid runs on the first day of the NCAA Division III Men's and Women's Indoor track & Field Championships on Friday afternoon at the Bear Recreation and Athletic Center.

Gast entered the meet seeded 17th of 17 runners in the 60 hurdles and finished 15th overall. She ran at :08.97 in her preliminary heat, which was just .05 of a second off her career-best time in the event.

Molinaro rallied on the home stretch for a second place finish in his heat, finishing in 1:54.58. He will be seeded third in the finals on Saturday at 3:45 pm (CST).

Richards entered the meet seeded No. 1 nationally and did not disappoint, winning her heat in a school record and Bear facility record 2:10.52.

She won her heat by nearly a second and topped the winner of the other heat by nearly two seconds. She will be seeded first in the finals on Saturday at 3:55 pm (CST).

"I felt really good today," Richards said. "I ran well and had some left at the end of the race."

Despite not advancing to the finals, Gast was happy with her performance.

"It was a great experience to compete at the national meet," she said. "I wish I could have finished better, but its was a fast race and my time was pretty good."

The top two placers in each heat and the next four fastest times qualified for the finals in the 800 and the heat winners and next six best times qualified in the 60 hurdles.

The top eight finishers in each event earn All-America honors, meaning Molinaro and Richards will be All-Americans by just finishing their respective races.

"I saw an opening in lane 1 on the final stretch and got through it," Molinaro said. "I felt great running today."

ONU head coach Jason Maus was pleased with all three of his student/athletes.

"All three of our young men and women had good races today," Maus said. "Our two 800 runners got into the finals with some energy to spare and Allie ran a great race in her own right. It was a good day all-around."