Matt Molinaro set to make professional track and field debut; Emily Richards kicks off 2019 campaign this weekend

By Blake Moore

| Boston University Meet Information | Camel City Invitational Meet Information/Live Results |

ADA — Former Ohio Northern track and field and cross country standouts Matt Molinaro and Emily Richards are slated to begin their respective 2019 professional track and field campaigns this weekend for the HOKA New Jersey-New York Track Club.

Molinaro will be making his professional track and field debut at Boston University's Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invitational on Saturday, February 2 in Boston, Massachusetts. He is scheduled to compete in the men's 800-meter run at approximately 2:55 p.m inside the Boston University Track and Tennis Center.

Molinaro committed to HOKA NJNYTC in June 2018 after graduating from ONU and joined the team at their Westchester, New York headquarters in September.

During his Ohio Northern career, Molinaro garnered four All-America honors, captured eight OAC Championship event titles, and was crowned the NCAA Division III indoor 800-meter run champion in 2018. He was also named to three All-Ohio Athletic Conference teams and the All-Great Lakes Region team in cross country.

Meanwhile, Richards will continue her professional career over the weekend, opening her 2019 season at the Camel City Invitational at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is slated to compete in the women's 800-meter run on Friday, February 1 at approximately 2:10 p.m. before pacing the women's elite mile around 3:05 p.m. on Saturday.

Richards competed in the same event during the 2018 season while at Ohio Northern, placing sixth in a nine-person field.

The former ONU standout also inked her professional deal with HOKA NJNYTC in June 2018 prior to the USATF Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

At Ohio Northern, Richards secured nine NCAA Division III event titles and earned 13 All-American accolades. She additionally holds 13 school records and owns the fastest indoor 800-meter run time in NCAA Division III history with a 2:05.28 effort.

Information for both meets can be found using the above links.