CALEDONIA — It was only until the final 100 meters of the race that Caledonia senior Emma Ruffin found her opportunity to race for a state title.
On Nov. 4, Ruffin and the Cavaliers competed in the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A-7A cross country championships at Choctaw Trails in Jackson.
Everything the four-year varsity runner had prepared for came down to just several hundred feet, and in the chaos of the final sprint before the finish line, she pulled ahead, winning an individual state title in her final high school race.
“I knew during that race and during this season, if I can stay with the front pack, keep a girl in front of me so I can aim to pass her, I can get it if I stay motivated,” Ruffin said. “… Me and the girl got side-by-side coming around. The last sprint, it’s something I’ll always remember. I knew how bad I wanted it, so I just had to push past her.”
Her stellar performance, combined with four top-20 finishes for the Cavs, earned the team a second-place finish among 4A schools in the state.
However, the day began and ended with someone who only picked up the sport as a freshman at Caledonia.
Ruffin has put the time and effort into her craft, practicing hard throughout the summers, working one-on-one with running coaches and putting in the work during the school year.
That work ethic has been reflected in how she’s talked about from her coaches, especially head coach Charla Lee.
“After last year, when she placed third at states, she expressed to me that she wanted to win states next year,” Lee said. “That was absolutely her goal and has been her goal since she was a freshman. She’s dedicated to practicing on her own. … She was our team captain for the girls team and she really stepped into her role as a captain.”
That Saturday morning, despite a program-defining performance for Ruffin, she came into the race a bit nervous as she does before every race, but this one had just a bit more meaning to it.
Her previous race day routines and tendencies during races changed this season, allowing her even more success, and that certainly played a role in earning a first place medal around her neck.
“My parents always told me that if you’re nervous, that means you care about it,” Ruffin said. “… It’s just something that I’ve really been wanting, and I couldn’t let my nerves get to me. I just had to go out there and run my race. You just have to run it and get into a zone.”
While more of a mental hurdle, not wearing a watch during races was a great benefit to her this season as an emphasis on time switched to an emphasis on self.
It’s the little things that have made the biggest difference for her, and her teammates at Caledonia have benefited even more so as a result.
The Cavs are on the rise and Ruffin has been the engine behind it.
“Just to know that I finally accomplished one of my main goals was huge for me,” Ruffin said. “… Cross country has never been a huge sport at Caledonia, so knowing that we’re finally getting our name out there, it’s been awesome. Hopefully, my teammates will be able to carry on the Caledonia cross country name. I love this sport and I love seeing people enjoy it with me.”
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