By Caleb Scott

ADA — Junior Emily Richards (Delaware/Hayes) has been named Ohio Athletic Conference Women's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week for the week of Jan. 16-21.

Richards led the Polar Bears (3-1 overall) to a second place finish at the season-opening OAC North Split Meet this past weekend.

The junior set the school record in the 1,000-meter run and broke the facility record by nearly seven seconds.

Richards broke the previous school mark of 2:59.50, set by former Polar Bear Catie Huber with a mark of 2:52.42.

Richards time also broke the previous facility record of 2:58.31 set in 2003.

The Polar Bears return to the track Saturday as they compete in the Grand Valley State (Mich.) Invitational.