NEW ORLEANS — Aoibhe Richardson made history again Tuesday for the University of San Francisco women's track program, becoming the first-ever USF woman to earn All-American honors in NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field, as announced by the USTFCCCA.
 
Richardson was the first USF woman to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field national championships when she earned a berth in the 5,000 meters for the 2020 championships that were to be held on March 13-14. But the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the championships, not allowing Richardson to run.
 
Richardson becomes the third USF cross country/track woman (Charlotte Taylor, Weronika Pyzik) to earn two All-American honors in a single academic year. She was already an All-American this year at the 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship, finishing 19th in 20:30.1 over the 6 km course. Her program-record time of 15 minutes, 52.54 seconds, on Feb. 15 in the indoor 5,000 gave her the 11th-best time in the nation.
 
"This honor caps a historic athletic year for Aoibhe, even though it was cut short," said USF Director of Track & Field and Cross Country.  "Cross country All-American, indoor 5,000 school record, first woman in program history to qualify for the NCAA indoor championships… We know she was ready for a great effort at the indoor meet and even more over the outdoor season.
 
"I'm sure Aoibhe would have rather been on the start line a bunch more this spring than have any award, but this is certainly an appropriate recognition of the level of excellence she achieved this year."
 
The Division I Track & Field Executive Committee, with support of the USTFCCCA Board of Directors, directed the USTFCCCA national office to reconfigure its All-America program for the 2020 indoor track & field season. The adjustments included bestowing All-American status to all student-athletes who were listed on a startlist for an event. This year, there are no distinctions of "first-team," "second-team," or "honorable mention" to the recognitions.