Royals’ Ruffener takes 2nd, 6th at state

Friend Horn edges out Wynford senior in 100

Wynford’s Corri Ruffener (center) looks over towards the officials after immediately crossing the finish line of the 100 hurdle finals Saturday morning at the Division III state track and field meet. After qualifying sixth Friday, she took runner-up honors Saturday.

COLUMBUS — After Saturday’s performance at the Division III state track and field meet, Wynford hurdler Corri Ruffener can say she is a three-time All-Ohioan as she placed in both the 100 and 300 hurdles at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
“A lot of people don’t do that,” she said. “Last year, I made it in both, but I choked (by only placing in the 100 hurdles). I’m pretty proud of this year and I get to say I’m a three-time All-Ohioan. A lot of kids can’t say that.”
Father and Royals boys coach Brad Ruffener was pleased with his daughter’s performance.
“It’s great,” he said. “It’s a long-term goal that came to fruition and it’s not the goal that she ultimately wanted, but second place is nothing to sneeze at.”
After qualifying sixth and second in the 100 and 300 hurdles Friday, respectively, Ruffener flip-flopped Saturday by placing second and sixth, respectively.
The 100 hurdles opened the Saturday portion of the meet and Ruffener was ready to go from the beginning. The gun sounded and she crossed the finish line 15.53 seconds later, just .1 seconds behind Waynesfield-Goshen’s Ivy Horn.

Wynford’s Corri Ruffener embraces Waynesfield-Goshen’s Ivy Horn (104) following the 100 hurdles finals Saturday morning at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Horn won the event in 15.43, while Ruffener was second with 15.53.

Immediately following the race, Ruffener sprinted to Ivy, where the two embraced in a hug with mile-wide smiles.
“Last year, Carly Williamson, my friend who didn’t make it finals, we had decided we would go 1-2 on the podium and she’d be the only one I could handle losing to,” Ruffener said. “Going second with Ivy, that’s cool too. Right before the race, I looked at her and said, ‘Carly’s not here; we need to go 1-2.’ She kind of nodded her head. We went 1-2 and we’re pretty excited.”
A little over an hour later, Ruffener took to the track again in the 300 hurdles.
“I just wasn’t focused, wasn’t ready, but I did a lot better than last year,” she said. “I ran like a 48 and got last; this year I ran a 47 and took sixth.”
Ruffener finished the race in 47.05, behind Brookfield’s Tori Thompson (46.75) and ahead of Pittsburg Franklin Monroe’s Lauren Landes (47.32).
“It was just a mistake,” Brad Ruffener said. “I think it’s hurdle No. 5 that she calls ‘the death hurdle.’ She just seems to stutter there. She had great speed up until then, but lost it all there. It’s just a mental error.”
As she walked off the track for the final time in her high school career, tears streamed down the hurdler’s cheeks.

Wynford’s Corri Ruffener and her father and boys track coach Brad Ruffener give a thumbs up following Corri’s dual placing day at the Division III state track and field meet. Corri placed second in the 100 hurdles and sixth in the 300 hurdles.

“It’s just the fact that I’m done running and I don’t get another shot at winning,” Corri said. “I’m done with high school.”
While she is done with high school, she does have the opportunity to compete at Division II Malone University for her college career.
“I think it’s a privilege,” Ruffener said. “There are a lot of girls here (at the state meet) that are winning and doing really well. It’s going to be really good to be on a team where everyone wants to do well. I’m not saying I’m the only girl who wanted to (from Wynford), but I’m the only girl here and have put in all the work to have my goals be All-Ohio.”
One teammate is Rittman’s Crystal Barber, who won the 100 and 200 dashes and was part of the winning 400 relay.
“She’s really excited,” Brad Ruffener said. “The Malone coaches have recruited a very good class and it’s going to be fun to watch them develop.”
While most high school students take a week off to relax and enjoy before going to their next step. Corri Ruffener will be doing what she always does — more hurdles.
She will be competing in a USA Track and Field event at Thomas Worthington High School on Saturday.

Finals results
100 hurdles: 1. I. Horn (Waynesfield-Goshen), 15.43; 2. Ruffener (Wynford), 15.53; 3. Looby (St. Thomas Aquinas), 15.61; 4. Rigaud (Steubenville Catholic), 15.85; 5. McCullough (Hannibal River), 15.98; 6. Breeze (Nelsonville-York), 16.02; 7. Siefring (Russia), 16.07; 8. Imbrock (Patrick Henry), 16.16; 9. Arica Stutz (Felicity-Franklin), 17.04.
300 hurdles: 1. McCullough (Hannibal River), 44.96; 2. Stoll (Edon), 45.45; 3. Siefring (Russia), 45.95; 4. Ruby (Wheelersburg), 46.73; 5. Thompson (Brookfield), 46.75; 6. Ruffener (Wynford), 47.05; 7. Landes (Pittsburg Franklin Monroe), 47.32; 8. M. Horn (Waynesfield-Goshen), 47.82; Menifee (Cincinnati Country Day), DQ.

By PATRICK MASSARA
Staff writer

Posted by Daily Chief on June 4, 2012. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry