Clarion’s Erin Richards currently has one of the DII season’s leading times in the women’s 10k, running a 34:38.69 at the Stanford Invitational on March 27. Her time was 40 seconds faster than last year's  10k winner at the NCAA Division II National Championship. Richard’s time is just 21 seconds shy of being among the Top 20 10k marks of all-time in NCAA Division II.  She has a chance to make this list at the Penn Relays, where she is running later this week.

Richards did not start running until her sophomore year at McDowell high school in Erie, Michigan.  “I went with the distance group because I didn't think I was fast or strong enough to do anything else.  After my first week of practice the coach told me I should run cross country. He had to keep telling me every day for about a year before I gave in and ran cross county as a senior” she recounts.  She continues, explaining that she did not always run the longer events, “My favorite event was always the 4 x 8 and our relay won districts and went to states all 3 years I ran.”

Even with this success in high school, Richards was still not sure but running college, but her Clarion visit eased her mind. “I choose Clarion because it is known as a good teaching school.  I came for a visit and liked the coach and the athletes I met.  The program was a little more laid back then and a little less intimidating than other schools I visited.  I liked this because I wasn't really sure how into running I was” she says.

Clarion seems to fit.  She has become the most decorated women’s track athlete in the school’s history with five All-American honors. “The highlight of my college career so far was running the DMR at indoor nationals this year.  It was so much to fun to go there as a part of a relay and to run as a team.  Our relay worked really hard and I was so proud to stand on the podium with Molly, Lisa, and Diane after we finished fourth,” she explains.

This career highlight is also one of her craziest experiences. She recalls, “The craziest thing that I can think of was running an extra lap at end of the DMR at indoor nationals.  It was out of control, girls were running, and then stepping off the track and coming back on, weaving in and out, looking like they were going to fall over.  I don't think anyone running had a clue what was going on and people were screaming all around and you had no idea what they wanted you to do.  It was a funny experience.”

Even though this is her senior season,  her goals are modest: “My goals going into the season were to pr in the 5k and 10k,” she continues, “Right now the plan is to run a 5k at Penn Relays next week.  Then get in a 3k the next week.  After that we will decide what I want to run at conference and at nationals.”

Her plans for after graduation are still up in the air. “For me, this is the hardest question! I have been avoiding this one for a long time; I pretty much want to stay in college forever. But, I am working on figuring stuff out right now, I'm not sure what that means yet though” she concludes.