A two-sport All-American for NAIA Benedictine College in Kansas, Jeremiah Richards of Palmer was one of Alaska’s greatest athletes. In 1999 he became the first track and field athlete in school history to place nationally at the NAIA Championships. He was a two-time All-American in the discus after placing fourth as a sophomore in 1999 and third as a junior in 2000. He also played tight end for the Benedictine football team. He was named all-conference three times and an All-American as a senior. Richards was even more successful at Palmer High School, where he was voted the state’s top football player and lineman of the year in 1996 and won two ASAA state titles in track and field – the discus in 1996 and the shot put in 1997.
