THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996 TAG: 9604090165
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KEITH POMPEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
ERIK HINES isn't your typical teenager.
Rather than hanging out with his friends, Hines, a Norview High School sophomore, prefers to help the needy.
``I was brought up in the church,'' he said. ``My mother always taught me that whatever you do, do it for the Lord. And that will always last and make a difference in people's hearts.''
Maybe that's why he's a member of various after-school programs at Norview.
His favorite is the Future Educators of America program, where he gets a chance to help elementary school students with homework.
And one week this past summer, he volunteered at a camp for handicapped children in Suffolk as a child care giver. He duties included bathing, feeding and dressing the children.
Hines feels the experience made him a better person.
``It was a reality check,'' he said. ``You see stuff that you never have seen before. Then you'll thank God that you can walk by yourself, use the bathroom, wash up.''
Don't let this soft side fool you.
He's also one of the area's top track athletes.
Last year, he won the 400 meters, the 110 high hurdles and anchored the Pilots' winning 1,600-meter relay at the Eastern District meet.
``Erik is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,'' Norview track coach Alan V. Williams said. ``Once you see him in school he is a polite kid that gets good grades.
``But on the track he is real aggressive. He does any or all the things you ask of him.''
Maybe that's why no one knows which is his best event.
He runs 10.9 seconds in the 100 and 21.9 in the 200, giving him the speed of a sprinter. He can also run 49.2 seconds in the quarter. And he's one of the area's top hurdlers.
``I even think he could be a good 800-meter man,'' Williams said. ``But with our short season there is really no way to tell what he could do because he plays football and basketball. Once I get him, it's tough to see which event he's the best in.''
But Hines, a strong safety football, said his best sport isn't track.
``Track is OK, but football is my favorite,'' He said. ``I have been playing football ever since I was 6 years old. If you're good at it, a lot of people talk about you. I guess you can say I like the attention.
``I think I get more attention playing football and basketball than track.
``It's very seldom that you hear people talking about a guy who runs a 49-second quarter. But you'll hear them say, `That Norview strong safety can hit, catch and run. That's what I like.' '' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by LAWRENCE JACKSON
Erik Hines runs 100 meters in 10.9 seconds.
by CNB