Her green track uniform reads Henrico, but Boeing would seems more appropriate.

Elaine Derricott is cleared for takeoff.

When the Henrico High junior spreads her wings, few soar farther or higher. Give her an A - for athlete and aviation.

Consider:

As a sophomore, “Eli” notched double-doubles (points, rebounds) in 21 games and triple-doubles (add blocked shots) 10 more times, earning Capital District player-of-the-year honors in basketball.

“She’s an athlete now,“ Henrico coach Jean Adkins said. “She can go to any college she wants.“

In her first crack at volleyball in 2006, she was an all-district selection.

In this past fall’s powder-puff football game, she ran for six touchdowns and passed for two more, leading the Henrico juniors to victory.

“I wish Eli was a guy; I’d have her playing football,“ joked former Henrico football coach Jesse Chavis, who also coaches track. “Bet she can run the 40 in 4.8.“

Track tornado: Which brings us to the present - outdoor track.

The 5-10 Derricott established herself a state Group AAA long-jump contender with two recent explosions.

She sailed 18-11 in a dual meet at Highland Springs, then bested a field of 44 at the Dogwood Invitational in Charlottesville with an 18-10¼.

Derricott also is a skilled triple and high jumper, a shot-putter and sprinter who added a 100-meter victory at the Highland Springs meet. At last year’s district meet, she placed in seven events.

Track coach T.C. Hill said his versatile 17-year-old is a combination race horse/workhorse.

“She’s willing to do all you ask - and more,“ he said. “Eventually, the high hurdles might be her best event.“

Country girl: Derricott, an admitted tomboy, grew up in Charles City County.

“I realized I was athletic in grade school,“ she said. “Whenever we had the physical fitness test, I’d always win the races.“

She was 10 when her family moved to eastern Henrico. She starred in basketball and track at Wilder Middle before entering Henrico.

Derricott juggles Henrico athletics with Blue Devils’ AAU basketball and participation with the Central Virginia Track Club.

Speed bump: Derricott passed on fall sports this school year to concentrate on her books.

In the five basketball games she played, she recorded double-doubles each night.

“I let my grades slip,“ Derricott said. “It just killed me not playing, but it was a huge wake-up call.“

Adkins said, “Elaine’s a good kid - an all-round kid and a leader, too. Once you talk to her, you love her.“

Derricott’s mother, Bertha, who insists on academics before athletics, heads the Henrico Booster Club and is pushing for a re-paving of the track.

Fast friends: While they’re not related, Derricott refers to Jasia Richardson (state triple jump champion from J.R. Tucker) as “my cousin.“

“I call her mom ‘mom’ and she calls my mom ‘mom,‘“ Derricott said.

They’ve set lofty standards.

“The long jump and the triple jump are ours, and we don’t care which one of us gets them,“ Derricott said.

Read about the Capital District track meet, where she was named outstanding female field athlete: