Flowery Branch grad Rucker starring for South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina sprinter Erika Rucker has been twice honored in as many weeks.

Rucker was recently selected by a vote of league coaches as the Southeastern Conference 2012 Indoor Freshman Runner of the year. And just days later, the Flowery Branch High graduate was named to the SEC's All-Freshman team.

Rucker's season was highlighted by a fourth-place finish in the 400 meters at the SEC Indoor Championships last week with a time of 53.08 seconds. Her finish moved her into the NCAA's top-10 and ranks her as the third-fastest freshman in the nation.

Rucker moved into South Carolina's all-time top-10 list and cut two seconds off her season-opening time. Rucker is the sixth Gamecock woman to earn an athlete of the year honor by the SEC, and she is the third to earn Freshman Runner of the Year honors behind Nadonnia Rodriques.