ONU senior  Emily Richards (Delaware/Hayes) has been named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Div. III Female National Track Athlete of the Year for her efforts during the 2018 outdoor season.

These awards were voted on by USTFCCCA member coaches based on performances both at this past weekend's NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in La Crosse, Wisc., as well as performances throughout the entire regular season.

During the outdoor season, Richards was named the USTFCCCA Div. III National Track Athlete of the Week in back-to-back weeks in April.

The senior also captured titles in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter running events at the 2018 Div. III Outdoor National Championships in La Crosse, Wis.

She ends her career as a 9-time NCAA Champion and a 13-time All-American after sweeping the 800 and 1,500 for the fourth consecutive championships meet last weekend.

The 6-time USTFCCCA All-Great Lakes Region Track Athlete of the Year becomes the first athlete at Ohio Northern to be named the National Athlete of the Year since it began in 1994.