Utah State University Athletics

HONORS: All-Mountain West Indoor: Pole Vault (2024); All-Mountain West Outdoor: Decathlon (2024), Pole Vault (2024, 2025); USTFCCCA All-Academic Team (2025); CSC Academic All-District (2025); Academic All-Mountain West (2024, 2025); Mountain West Scholar-Athlete (2023, 2024, 2025); USU Whitesides Scholar-Athlete (2023, 2024, 2025).

INDOOR RECORDS: Ranks second all-time at USU in the heptathlon with 5,330 points, set in 2025… Ranks sixth all-time at USU in the pole vault with a clearance of 5.25 meters (17-2.75), set in 2025.

OUTDOOR RECORDS: Ranks fourth all-time at USU in the decathlon with 7,101 points, set in 2025… Ranks fourth all-time at USU in the pole vault with a clearance of 5.30 meters (17-4.75), set in 2025.

2025 (JR)
Indoor: Placed fourth in the heptathlon at the Mountain West Indoor Championships with a personal-best overall score of 5,330 points, fueled by personal-best performances in the 60 meters (6.96), 1,000 meters (2:54.09), long jump (6.65 meters (21-9.75)) and shot put (11.84 meters (38-10.25))… Took fourth in the pole vault at the conference championships with a clearance of 5.11 meters (16-9.25)… Finished first in his section of the pole vault at the Arkansas-hosted Tyson Invitational with a personal-best jump of 5.25 meters (17-2.75)… Won the heptathlon competition at the Nevada Invitational with an overall score of 5,214 points… Set a personal best in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:22.76 as USU placed second at the Idaho State-hosted Snake River Open… Posted a personal-best high jump of 1.86 meters (6-1.25) during the heptathlon competition at the BYU December Invitational, ultimately finishing second overall with 5,206 points.
Outdoor: Placed 33rd in the pole vault at the NCAA West First Rounds with a clearance of 5.02 meters (16-5.5)… Finished third in the pole vault at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships with a height of 4.96 meters (16-3.25)… Set a personal best in the shot put with a mark of 11.96 meters (39-3) as he placed fifth among decathletes at the BYU-hosted Robison Invitational… Ran a personal-best time of 14.95 in the 110-meter hurdles at the Utah State-hosted Aggie Invitational, placing seventh… Posted a personal-best overall score of 7,101 points in the decathlon as he placed fifth at the Azusa Pacific-hosted Bryan Clay Multis, including a personal-best time of 10.85 in the 100 meters… Set personal bests in the pole vault (5.30 meters (17-4.75)) and the 4x100-meter relay (40.72) at the Texas State-hosted Bobcat Invitational, placing second and seventh, respectively… Posted a personal-best long jump of 6.76 meters (22-2.25) at the Utah Tech Invitational, finishing third.

2024 (SO)
Indoor: Placed third in the pole vault with a season-best mark of 4.96 meters (16-3.25) and fifth in the heptathlon with a season-best 4,980 points, which is tied for eighth in school history, while setting season bests in the heptathlon 1,000 meters with a time of 2:55.60 (fifth) and heptathlon long jump with a mark of 6.33 meters (20-9.25) (ninth) at the Mountain West Indoor Championships… Set a personal best in the 600 meters with a time of 1:35.08 as he finished 12th at the Utah State-hosted Roman Ruiz Speed and Power Meet… Placed 10th in the 400 meters with a career-best time of 51.04 at the Weber State Invitational… Set a season best in the shot put with a mark of 11.10 meters (36-5) (fourth) and 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.45 (second) during the heptathlon at the Idaho State-hosted Snake River Open… During the heptathlon at the BYU December Invitational, set season bests in the 60 meters with a time of 7.13 seconds (third) and high jump, clearing 1.80 meters (5-10.75) (fifth).
Outdoor: Finished second in the pole vault with a season-best clearance of 4.97 meters, (16-3.5), fifth in the 4x400-meter relay with a personal-best time of 3:14.84 and third in the decathlon with a season best 6,731 points, which ranked 10th in school history, while winning the decathlon 400 meters with a personal-best time of 49.37 and decathlon pole vault with a clearance of 4.80 meters (15-9) at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships… Set a personal best in the high jump with a clearance of 1.89 meters (6-2.5) and season bests in the long jump with a mark of 6.20 meters (20-4) and shot put with a mark of 11.94 meters (39-2) as he finished fifth in the decathlon with 5,632 points at the BYU-hosted Robison Invitational… Set a personal best in the 400-meter hurdles (fifth, 50.47) and a season best in the 110-meter hurdles (sixth, 15.81) at the Utah State-hosted Aggie Invitational… On his way to taking 10th in his group in the decathlon, set personal bests in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:52.88, javelin with a mark of 47.09 meters (154-6) and discus with a mark of 32.87 meters (107-10), plus a season best in the 100 meters with a time of 10.95, at the Azusa Pacific-hosted Bryan Clay Invitational.

2023 (FR)
Indoor: Did not compete during the indoor season.
Outdoor: Did not compete during the outdoor season.

HIGH SCHOOL: Four-sport athlete across track & field, football, basketball and swimming at Perry (Ohio) High School… Placed fourth in the decathlon at the Adidas Outdoor Nationals in 2022 with a personal-best score of 6,201 points, placing first in the 100 meters (11.08), first in the 400 meters (50.43), 110-meter hurdles (14.81) and shot put (13.04m/52-9.5)… At the 2022 OHSAA D2 State Track and Field Championships, placed second in the pole vault (15-10),  fourth in the 110-meter hurdles (14.52) and eighth in the 300-meter hurdles (41.54)… Placed second in the 60-meter hurdles (8.15) and third in the pole vault (15-3) at the 2022 OATCCC D2-D3 Indoor State Meet… Won the 300-meter hurdles (38.20) and pole vault (15-6), and finished fifth in the 110-meter hurdles (15.32) at the 2021 OHSAA D2 State Track and Field Championships… Won the 60-meter hurdles (8.48) and pole vault (14-6) and finished fourth in the 60 meters (7.23), eighth in the 200 meters (23.58) and ninth in the high jump (5-8) at the 2021 OATCCC D2-D3 Indoor Finale… Across his high school career, recorded personal-best times of 7.19 in the 60 meters, 11.04 in the 100 meters, 22.73 in the 200 meters, 50.43 in the 400 meters, 5:28.96 in the 1,600 meters, 8.15 in the 60-meter hurdles, 14.52 in the 110-meter hurdles, 38.03 in the 300-meter hurdles, 42-9.5 in the shot put, 115-5 in the discus, 137-7.5 in the javelin, 5-10 in the high jump, 15-10 in the pole vault, 20-1 in the long jump and 6,201 in the decathlon.

PERSONAL: Son of Layne and Chandice Richards… Has three younger brothers… Both parents competed in track and field at Southern Utah University… Younger brother, Brayden, is a member of the Air Force track and field team… Majoring in computer science.

PERSONAL BESTS INCLUDE: