Flowery Branch graduate Erika Rucker earned an invitation to the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships Monday night from the Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Committee as part of the South Carolina Gamecocks track and field program.

The event takes place Friday-Saturday, March 9-10, in  Nampa, Idaho.

Rucker was named the SEC Freshman Runner of the Year last week after a 400-meter dash season in which she improved from a season-opening 55.43 to a personal best 53.08 just 35 days later to place fourth overall at the SEC Indoor Championships. 

She is the third-fastest 400-meter dash freshman in the nation and ranks 10th overall in the event.

Rucker was one of three Gamecock women to earn bids to NCAA Indoor Championships.