When Erika Rucker showed up for her first track practices as a freshman at Flowery Branch High four years ago, coach Jimmy Sorrells had no idea who she was.

By the time her prep career ended this spring, everyone in the state who knew anything about track knew the name Erika Rucker.

At the state track meet in Albany, Rucker was the Class AAA champion in the 400- and 800-meter runs.

Her times were the fastest spanning all five classifications. For her efforts, Rucker the The Times' All-Area Girls Track Athlete of the Year, earning the honor for the second straight season.

Last year, she won the 400 at the Class AAA state meet.
Upon arriving at Flowery Branch, she'd ran track at Davis Middle, but only posted average times.

"Her intentions in ninth grade coming in was not to be a state champ," Sorrells said. "That just sort of happened. All she wanted to do was make some friends."

Added Rucker, "I did a little in middle school. I never wanted to be the best, I was just trying to have fun."

However, she began showing her potential to be great almost immediately.

Then, in her sophomore year, she finished in third place in the 200 at the Class AAA meet, just 0.8 seconds behind the winner.

That's when she decided to get serious about track.

"I started training all year," she said. "I spent a lot more time running."

She trained with the US track and field program and worked with the Lanier Lightning Club. She also trained with Flowery Branch.

She was building her stamina and strength and by the end of her junior year, she was a state champion in the 400.

"It felt great," she said. "I knew training all year would help me with fitness, and it really showed later in the year."

Heading into her senior season, Sorrells decided to up the ante for his expectations of Rucker and her training. She would no longer compete in the 200, instead moving to the 800.

To help Rucker prepare to run the longer distance, Sorrells encouraged her to run cross country in the fall.

"I convinced her to do it because it would build her stamina," Sorrells said. "I was basically asking her to do it because it would make her faster. A lot of athletes are naive to the concept that running long distances can make you faster. They think the distance will slow them down, but it actually speeds them up.

"I had some specific planning for her. It wasn't by accident we got her to where she's at. It was a very strategic plan."

A plan Rucker at first was not sold on.

"I didn't want to do it at first," she said. "At first, I thought I was just going to run a couple of races and be more of a team manager, but it became a more serious thing as the season went on."

The work paid off.

In Albany, she won the 400 with a time of 53.96 seconds, and the 800 with a time of 2:16.84. She admitted cross country was the clinching component in doubling up in state titles in what Sorrells dubbed as "one of the toughest doubles there is."

"It was a lofty goal," he said, "but I thought she was capable of it."

Rucker said standing on the podium after her second title of the meet was a proud feeling.

"I felt so blessed," she said. "It was the greatest moment. I thought I could do it, but actually doing it was amazing. Being up on the podium twice - wow, what a good season."

Track for Rucker will go beyond high school. Her performances over the years earned her a full ride to compete for South Carolina, a school she chose over Georgia, Clemson, Duke and Kentucky, all of which she made official visits to.

She chose the Gamecocks because "it felt like home. Everyone on the team was friendly, and the coaches have a long history of training good athletes. Plus, they have my major of nursing."

As she embarks on a college career, the sky is the limit. She hasn't ruled out one day competing to be an Olympian, and Sorrells believes that's an attainable goal.

"I believe she has the ability," he said.

Said Rucker, "If it happens, that's great. I won't be disappointed if it doesn't though, because I want to be a nurse and help people. That's a couple of years off anyway, so for right now my focus is to be a well-rounded student-athlete."