For the ninth time in her career, ONU senior Emily Richards (Delaware/Hayes) has been named the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III Women's Track National Athlete of the Week.

The senior also earned the honor for the second consecutive week and the fifth time this season.

Richards earned the honor after competing in the 800-meter run at the 39th Annual Sun Angel Classic hosted by Arizona State this past weekend.

The senior was a competitor in the premier section of the event, where she finished second overall and was the top collegian in the event in 2:02.84.

Richards bested her nation-leading time from last weekend's Raleigh Relays and improved it by nearly half a second. Richards' time also hit the United States Track & Field qualifying mark in the event.

The senior will join Northern this weekend as they return to action and compete in the All-Ohio Championships in Delaware on Saturday afternoon