HUNTINGTON -- Spring Valley's Savannah Rutherford was nearly in tears after the 400 meters in the Carlos Akers Memorial meet on April 4 on the Chris Parsons Track at Cabell Midland High School.

On that chilly Saturday, Rutherford lined up against two-time defending Class AAA state champion Josie Crouch of Hurricane and Danielle Winningham of Cabell Midland. At the end of that one lap, Rutherford got to the line first in 58.37 seconds. Winningham followed in 58.61 and Crouch came next in 1:00.45.

So, the runner who placed second to Crouch in the West Virginia High School Championships a year ago had now served notice on her two rivals and runners across the state.

"I was so happy I almost cried," Rutherford said Thursday night after winning the 200 and 400 in the Class AAA Region IV meet at Hurricane High School. "I took pictures. I didn't think it would happen again."

Wrong. Rutherford finished No. 1 in the Gazette Relays and regional.

At the Mountain State Athletic Conference meet, Rutherford had to settle for third behind Winningham, who's signed with Ohio University, and Crouch.

It's safe to say all eyes will be on these three runners when they gather at the starting line for the 400 in the state meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at Laidley Field in Charleston. They've consistently been under a minute all season. Of the other three regionals, the best winning time came in Region I at 1:00.48.

"I've sort of come out of nowhere," said Rutherford, who placed sixth in the 400 in the state meet in 2007. "This has been a boost to my confidence."

Rutherford has the top times in the state in the 200 and 400 and runs a leg on the 4x800 relay team.

"I never thought of myself as a 200 runner," she said, noting she finished seventh in the 800 at the state a year ago. "I'm getting used to it."

Spring Valley coach Dave Duncan moved Rutherford from the 800 to the 200 early in the season.

"It was a workout for speed," Duncan said. "She ran real well. We talked about it. I got her input. She's the one running. I felt like I had to stay with it.

"If it's the 200 or 800, the 800 tires you more. Your legs are tired out the last part of the season. In the 200, you have a better chance to win, hopefully."

Crouch gets a lot of attention because of her success and the fact Hurricane is the defending girls Class AAA state champ. Rutherford said she's more at ease now when she runs against Crouch and Winningham in what's evolved as one of the feature races at meets.

"When you talk spotlight you think about Josie and then Danielle," Rutherford said. "I'm not used to this yet, but I'm getting there. I can't let ego take over. One bad move and it's over.

"Coming out of the curve I go hard. If I'm with them, I know I'm running well. I believe I can beat them."

Solid training habits have gotten Rutherford to this point.

"In the 400 the key is she's trained like a distance runner," Duncan said. "She's willing to do the distance work. I hated to take her out of the 800, but I knew she could do it (200). That was the best route to take now."

Next season Duncan said Rutherford's distances could change again.

"We'll work on endurance in the fall and approach the issue next season," he said. "If she goes on (college), the 800 is probably what they'll want."

Duncan hopes Rutherford's success can inspire other athletes to attempt track.

"If she has success it might draw them to it," he said. "Right now she's focused on what she wants."

ON 2B

Tri-State state meet qualifiers

AP Video

The Herald-Dispatch

Rutheford

Purchase this photo