Ruffin leads renewed Franklin track tradition

Franklin High School has a long track history, and the current crop of Hornets’ sprinters are adding to that legend.
The team is led by freshman Hakim Ruffin, a 14-year-old blur who is making noise on a national level.
On March 20, the Hornets’ sprinters were the talk of the Foster/Perry Relays in Franklin.
Ruffin and Morgan City sprinter Kevon Marsh had a classic battle in the 100 meter dash. The little freshman ran down Marsh and L.W. Higgins’ Josh Deselles late in the race for a sizzling mark of 10.72.
“Hakim usually gets out of the blocks first,” former Franklin track standout Larry Guilbeau said. “In fact, I call him a block specialist, but today, those boys jumped him. But despite his size, he’s very strong, and he was able to catch them. He often has to make three steps to every one against taller runners.”
Ruffin is only 5 feet 4 inches tall.
He put an equally impressive time in the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.42.
Ruffin said his dad said the 200 was his better event.
However, he said his just likes to run and does the best he can.
Ruffin’s father, Mark Ruffin, has been working with him since he was 8 years old, and the younger Ruffin said he listens to his father and works hard daily.
Mark Ruffin is a good guy to listen to. The elder Ruffin was also a high school track standout who ran collegiality at the University of New Orleans and with a couple of track clubs after college.
“This is Hakim’s first year running year round with AAU and high schools seasons, so we started weight training for the first time three or four months ago,” Mark Ruffin said. “We also did a lot of training for the 400 meters along with the speed work, and that’s why he was able to be behind at the 88 meter mark in the 100 and still win. It’s that strength from the 400-meter conditioning.”
That conditioning technique is a staple at Franklin High.
“The late, legendary Coach Albert Perry started that here at Franklin and Coach Kenneth Lockett has carried on the tradition,” Guilbeau said. “We are known for turning out quarter-milers, but our kids can run the 100 up to 800 meters. That has and continues to be the secret to our success. It’s hard work.”
That work ethic has paid off in the indoor (AAU) season as well. Ruffin ran a 6.98 in the 60 meter dash at the New Balance National Indoor Meet in New York two weeks ago, finishing second in a photo finish to Eric Allen of Potomac, Maryland, who recorded a 6.96 finish.
Both Ruffin's and Allen's times broke the meet record of 7.01.
Ironically, the freshman record is held still locally by former Central Catholic standout Jerald Watson. Watson ran a 6.78 in March 2001.
At the Foster/Perry Relays, Ruffin also led the Hornets to first-place finishes in the 4x100 and 4x200 meter relays.
In the 4x100, Franklin (Charles Webb, Avontra Perro, Ruffin and Trevions Rouchon) beat Morgan City (Marsh, Tierrell Jones, Jaylen Jones and Keshawn Marshall) with a time of 42.25. The Tigers finished in 43.70 and Higgins was third in 44.18.
In the 4x200, Franklin (Rouchon, Ruffin, Perro and Webb) dominated with a time of 1:26:10. MCHS (Marsh, Tierrell Jones, Jaylen Jones and Keshawn Marshall) was second in 1:29:22 and Higgins was third again in 1:31:95. Ruffin was named outstanding track performer.
“I was at the junior high meet last night, and Franklin has a lot of talent coming up to the high school, and with Hakim being just a freshman, the glory days of Franklin track may be back,” Guilbeau said.
Mark Ruffin, however, keeps his son humble with realistic goals.
“I tell him the chance of him going pro in football or track and field are slim, but he’s good enough now to get a college scholarship and a free education,” the elder Ruffin said. “So we are going to work hard to achieve that goal and everything else is gravy.”
Additional reporting by Dyestat.com.