Moon, Richeson Ready For 2025 World Athletics Outdoor Championships

As has been the case for much of the first part of this decade, the upcoming World Athletics Outdoor Championships will have a distinct Ashland University track and field flavor.
 
Eagle Hall of Famer Katie Moon (women's pole vault) and current AU volunteer throws coach Rachel Richeson (women's hammer throw) will compete for Team USA at 2025 outdoor worlds in Tokyo, Japan, in September. Qualification for women's pole vault will be Sept. 14 at 8:05 p.m., with finals set for Sept. 17 at 7:10 a.m., while qualification for women's hammer throw will take place on Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. (group A) and 9:45 p.m. (group B), and the finals set for Sept. 15 at 8 a.m. (all times Eastern).
 
Moon, 34, is tied for the third-best women's pole vault mark in the world in 2025 at 4.85 meters/15-feet-11 – recently accomplished in Belgium on Aug. 22.
 
"It's awesome. Not having to stress about the trials (USATF Outdoor Nationals) was incredible, because it's just getting more and more competitive," Moon said, prior to a recent workout at the Niss Athletic Center. "I'm just glad that I'm still hanging and still in a position to not only represent my country, but hopefully bring home a medal again."
 
Moon is the 2020 Summer Olympics gold medalist (contested in 2021, and in Tokyo) and 2024 Summer Olympics silver medalist for Team USA in the women's pole vault, and also has won two World Athletics outdoor championships, five USATF indoor titles and two USATF outdoor championships.
 
A 2024 inductee into the Ashland University Hall of Fame, Moon was a two-time NCAA Division II national champion and three-time D-II All-American in the pole vault, and continues to boast school women's pole vault records both indoors (4.27 meters/14-feet-0) and outdoors (4.44 meters/14-feet-6¾).
 
Moon's PR of 4.95 meters/16-feet-2¾ is fifth-best in world history.
 
Of going back to Tokyo to compete again, and in a much different environment than four years ago, Moon said, "I'm so excited. It was amazing, but it was a weird experience with COVID, so actually getting to go experience Tokyo for all it is, my family and friends getting to be there, I'm so excited.
 
"No matter how the competition goes, it's going to be a pretty incredible experience."
 
Richeson, who will turn 26 in late September, also is No. 3 in the world in her event, topping out so far in 2025 at 78.80 meters/258-feet-6 in April in Oklahoma. That mark is the sixth-longest in world women's hammer throw history.
 
"It's not to get too caught up in expectations," said Richeson. "We know what my potential is, and if I throw as well as we know I can throw, some really good things can happen. You get a little bit in trouble if you start thinking about what I expect to happen."
 
Another person excited for Richeson's opportunity is who helps train her, Eagle head track and field coach A.G. Kruger.
 
"With how hard she trains every day, the positive atmosphere she creates around not just herself but the team, the ability to just want to learn and be coached and take things right away and work on it," Kruger said, "you can't ask for a better person to let all these things come together.
 
"I'm just happy to be along for the ride, to let her see how awesome it can be to do those things. I had my opportunities, now I feel happy that I am passing along those opportunities to the next generation. Just can't be more proud of what she's done and accomplished."
 
Richeson competed collegiately at the University of Notre Dame, placing second in the nation in the women's weight throw at the 2021 NCAA Indoor National Championships, before coming to coach for the Eagles.
 
"Coming out of college, my coach had cancer, kind of a similar situation as Jud (former AU head track and field coach Jud Logan). I knew I was going to need somewhere else to go, and I knew (former AU volunteer coach) Morgan Shigo during college, who had been training with A.G. at South Dakota. I knew they were making the move here.
 
"Got in touch, and came here to visit that summer before A.G. came here in the fall. Knew pretty quickly that this was a good spot to be, and the best spot for me."
 
Representing an NCAA Division II track and field program at a world level is going to be noteworthy for both Moon and Richeson.
 
"It's so special," Moon said, "and it really just goes to show that you can be good from any background in this sport, as long as you put in the work. And, in my case, have a pretty incredible team around me. I'm very fortunate with that."
 
"I'm super excited," Richeson said. "First time making the team. That's what I do this for, is to be able to represent the U.S. at meets like this. Just really feels good to finally get my spot."
 
Complete broadcast information for 2025 outdoor worlds will be made available by World Athletics closer to the event.