Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Noelle Richard ’13 helped usher in a new era of women’s track and field success at WPI. Her dedication to the program and commitment to excellence set the benchmark for future classes of Engineers to shoot for. Richard believed that being competitive on a conference, regional and national level was well within her and her teammate’s capabilities, and she pushed everyone to achieve to their fullest potential.

Richard remains the school record holder in the 400 meters for both indoor (56.38) and outdoor (56.61) seasons. She qualified for the NCAA Track & Field Championships six times, and her best times in these two events would still qualify her for every NCAA Championship since she graduated. In 2011, she became the first ever Indoor New England Champion for the WPI women’s program and was a two-time ECAC champion in the 400 meters as well.

“Noelle was a moose of an athlete in a diminutive frame,” noted Head Coach Brian Chabot. “You always knew you were going to get her best in every race she ran and usually that meant a win. I can draw a straight line from Noelle joining us as a first year to the success we've seen, especially in our women's team, over the last 10 years. She was that important to our program.”

After exhausting all of her track and field eligibility during her undergraduate years at WPI, Richard took up distance running and joined cross country for her graduate school year. Typically not an easy endeavor for a lifelong sprinter, Richard earned her spot on the team, was a top-7 runner all season, and was a member of the NCAA Regionals team. 

Richard excelled in the classroom and the community as well as on the track. She earned CoSIDA Academic All-District in three straight seasons, and was voted Academic All-American in 2013. She was a three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree, made Dean’s List in seven of her semesters, and graduated with High Distinction. Richard was a member of Pi Mu Epsilon Math Honor Society and was awarded the Robert Fellman Memorial Prize, the Varsity Club Award and the Carolyn McCabe Award.

Richard graduated in 2013 with high distinction and earned a bachelor's degree in Mathematical Sciences and a year later went on to earn a master's degree from WPI in Applied Statistics.  The Millbury native currently works as a Quality Engineer at The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, MA and continues to live in Central Mass, where she still enjoy running and also cycling and hiking.