ONU senior Emily Richards (Delaware/Hayes) and the women's cross country team were recipients of academic honors from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches for their efforts in the classroom during the 2017 campaign.

Richards, a 2017 All-American, Ohio Athletic Conference Female Co-Runner of the Year, and All-Ohio Female Runner of the Year was named a USTFCCCA All-Academic individual for the 2017 season and earned the honor for the second time in her career.

The senior was the runner-up at the OAC Championships and the Great Lakes Regional Meet before being named an All-American with a ninth place finish at the 2017 Div. III National Championships. 

Ohio Northern also earned USTFCCCA Team All-Academic status for the 13th consecutive season in 2017.

Northern posted a fourth place finish at the OAC Championships in 2017 under ninth-year head coach Jason Maus