After spending one season at Ohio State University, Syaira Richardson has transferred to Texas A&M University.

Former Team WAR standout Syaira Richardson will embark on a new journey this year. After spending her freshman season at Ohio State, Richardson will be further down south this year. During her senior high school campaign, Richardson had signed with Ohio State after having multiple suitors coming out of high school. Her freshman season didn’t quite go how she wanted it to and felt like maybe a new opportunity was going to be beneficial.

“It was bigger than track and field,” she said. “I think Ohio State has a great coaching staff and program, but I didn’t feel like it was a fit for myself.”

In the indoor season, Richardson had felt good about the direction she was heading in. During the outdoor season, it was rough as she admitted to having a few mental blocks when it came to trusting her coaches and her training. She did become an All-American in the 4×400 relay team for Ohio State during the outdoor season.

After Richardson graduated from Nansemond River High School, her family moved to Texas. She comes from a family that is really close and being at Ohio State she got homesick. Mentally she felt like it was going to be better for her to transfer to be closer to her family. Ironically for Richardson, before she started getting recruited in high school, Texas A&M was her dream school.

“After taking an official visit to A&M I felt like it was where I belonged,” she said. “I felt at home. I knew after I left the campus from my visit that this was where I wanted to be. My family and I felt like it would be best if I spent the next three years close to home.”

It wasn’t exactly a no-brainer decision to transfer to Texas A&M. She had a couple of other options such as the University of Arkansas. During the middle of her outdoor season at OSU, she got the permission of contact to explore her options. However, she still fulfilled her commitment at OSU out of respect for her coaches and teammates there. Because she is transferring from the BIG-10 Conference to the Southeastern Conference (SEC), she will not have to sit out this season per NCAA rules.

At Nansemond River, Richardson earned herself numerous All-American and All-State honors. Her last indoor season for Team WAR was one to remember. At the indoor state meet, she took home for first-place finishes. She finished first in the 300-meter, 55-meter, long jump and 4×400 relay. She has also represented Team USA at the Pan America Games in Peru taking gold there.