[3] In 1973, Richardson was injured in a car accident and sustained a vertebral compression fracture months before he was to start an athletic scholarship at Drake University.
[3] For his post-secondary education, Richardson initially studied physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before switching to life sciences.
[8][9] At the 1977 NCAA Division III Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Richardson won the 10,000 meters with a time of 29:50:92.
[12][13] After the championship, it was determined that Richardson and the other competitors had not run the entire race after they were accidentally directed to a road not part of the marathon.
With a time of 2:13:54, Richardson qualified for the Boston Marathon and United States Olympic Trials to be held in 1980.
[1] After ending his marathon career, Richardson worked at a pharmacy before he reappeared at road racing events in 2001.