As many know, the sport of running is a yearlong endeavor, even more so for the very best and the professionals, who all competed in the 2025 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships last week, with many Ohio natives in the mix as well who represented to their absolute best.
Within that group was Emily Richards, a 2014 alum of Delaware Hayes High School and later on became one of the most decorated NCAA Division III athletes in history at Ohio Northern University.
In high school, she primarily had focus on the long sprints but also had exposure on the grass over the 5000m distance as well.
Once she transitioned into collegiate scene, her diversity in events increased exponentially from there, having competed in events as short as the 200m to as long as the 6000m (XC) and even having a personal best in the Javelin Throw as well. During her time representing the Polar Bears, as previously mentioned, Richards accumulated a total of 9 NCAA Division III National Championship titles with those 9 being included in her 13 All-American finishes throughout her collegiate career. Notably, she held personal bests of 2:02.34 in the 800m and 4:15.77 in the 1500m, the two events where she notched her national titles.
Professionally, Richards has made several appearances at prestigious competitions including the USATF Championships, Penn Relays, and USATF Grand Prix.
Throughout that time until present day, Richards has primarily focused on the 800m, and distance that saw her chasing what could be deemed as the "holy grail" for the event: Sub-2 minutes.
Since 2017, Richards has run 2:00.xx several times, being only within tenths of a second from seeing that 1:59.xx.
Based on Seasons Bests (2:00.xx)
2017 - 2:00.62
2018 - 2:00.67
2022 - 2:00.20
2023 - 2:00.82
2024 - 2:00.61
Last week at the USATF Outdoor Championships, on Thursday, July 31st, Richards, who was now representing Atalanta NYC, made it through to the semi-finals with a 2:00.87 and a third-place finish in Heat 3 in the opening rounds with near even splits of 59.04 and 1:01.83.
Returning back the very next day, she ended up pulling off a feat that no athlete that had at any point represented an NCAA DIII institution managed, dipping under 2-minutes for the 800m. Richards clocked 1:59.87 with splits of 58.21 and 1:01.67 in a semi-final heat that also saw the 1-2 (Sage Hurta-Klecker and Maggi Congdon) finishers punch their tickets to the World Championships
