DATE: Thursday, April 24, 1997              TAG: 9704230131

SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS         PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, COMPASS SPORTS EDITOR 

                                            LENGTH:   64 lines

NORVIEW'S HINES IS ON FAST TRACK TO STARDOM

SURROUNDED BY STARS, Erik Hines has become one, too.

The Norview junior grew up playing ball with James Whitley, David Martin and Larry Austin - three Pilot seniors who earned football scholarships to Division I schools.

But it's track season now, and Hines is the one shining. Having already qualified for the state meet in the 400 by running 49.25 seconds at the Norfolk State Relays, Hines is likely to qualify also in the 200 and could compete in hurdles if he desired, says Norview coach Carlton Thomas.

``He's very consistent,'' says Thomas, also defensive coordinator of the football team. ``But he's seen much more in track. Last year he was a running back, but he shared time with Larry Austin. Next year he'll be featured on our football team.''

By then, Whitley will be at Michigan, Martin at Tennessee and Austin at Virginia Tech. Those three schools - along with Virginia and North Carolina - are on Hines' short list.

``James is always telling me he's recruiting me,'' Hines says.

Hines would love to catch the eye of Division I football scouts. Yet track, he acknowledges, has always been his gift. He can run a 400 and not be the least bit out of breath.

``Everybody has their sport - James, David, Larry and Joe (Jordan) football; David Martin and James basketball and I guess where I stand out is track,'' Hines says.

But football is his passion.

``I love the game,'' he says. ``I love the fans. You get more glory when you go out there in football. You hear about the Olympics every four years. In football even when it's not going on, you hear about trades, what's going on in college football, what's going on in high school football.''

Next year he hopes they're talking about Hines the football player as much as Hines the track star. He's played since he was 6, winning a city championship with the Oakmont Corrupters, a recreational team that also included Whitley and Austin.

``James used to outrun me and Larry,'' he says. ``But over this five-year span, I can beat both of 'em.''

He speaks of his buddies as brothers, but they are also competitors. In track, Thomas encourages them to have meets within themselves and Hines will often find himself racing 100s against Whitley or Austin. Even as football teammates, the competition never ceased.

``If James is playing quarterback and I'm playing cornerback, you give him the best look you can give,'' Hines says. ``If he keeps going to your receiver, that makes you better. By you being on David Martin, 6-5, 200 pounds, that's going to make you a better cornerback.''

Next year he'd like to be the one playing QB to go with cornerback.

But for now he's focusing on track, and he thinks competing in the sprints helps him beyond the obvious benefit of staying in shape.

``There's some things you can't teach a person, like how to run,'' he says. ``In college they can teach you certain coverages and what to do in certain situations, but speed you have to work on on your own time.''

As a senior Hines will be on his own, too, with his best friends graduated. ``All my friends will be gone, and I won't have anyone to hang with,'' he says. ``But it's only for a year. Hopefully we'll be reunited in college.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by VICKI FRIEDMAN

Having qualified for the state meet in the 400 at the Norfolk State

Relays, Hines is likely also to qualify in the 200.

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