All who know her would tell you that Nicole Bush is a collegiate track and field all-star, but you wouldn't know from chatting with her. In fact, the obvious thing about Bush is she would never let you know it.
When The State News asked Bush how she felt about recently finishing fifth in this year's NCAA Championship 3,000-meter steeplechase, breaking an MSU record and earning All-American honors, she paused abruptly and said, "What about it?"
"I mean, it's a good feeling to know," Bush said. "But I can't really focus on that and be like, 'Oh yeah, I'm an All-American in track.' I have to start focusing on the next thing."
Bush's modest and cool demeanor has become a staple of her personality, style and athletic moxie. The young star has accomplished more in her sophomore year than most athletes manage to muster up in their entire careers.
However, to Bush it's clear that her accomplishments pale in comparison to her drive to work harder, and her awards will never hold a candle to her goals.
Women's cross country coach Rita Arndt-Molis spoke about Bush's character and work ethic.
"Honestly, I think her nonchalant attitude is part of the reason why she did so well this past weekend," Arndt-Molis said. "She doesn't get overwhelmed by, frankly, the top level of collegiate competition she competes at. She certainly wasn't stressed out or making it out to be something more than it was. She just approached it in a cool, calm, collected manner."
"Cool" is the one word that you'll hear consistently from Bush's teammates, friends and coaches when they are asked to describe her.
The power runner's minimal reaction and narrow focus can come across in a number of unexpected ways. However, to Bush's teammates, the track star's chill attitude is a welcome contrast to a field of flaring tempers and hotheaded competitors.
"She has a lot of passion," Spartan runner Katie Kelly said. "Her passion is just really different from other people's, so you don't expect it to come out because she's really laid back. Everyone has a different way of expressing themselves, and I think her nonchalant attitude really contributes to the team."
If anyone else had the opportunity to be Bush right now, they would be anything but calm. Late Friday night at the NCAA Championships in Sacramento, Calif., the sophomore from Wyoming, Mich., scorched to a fifth-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
During the semifinals, Bush broke an MSU school-record for the event by finishing with a time of 10 minutes, 9.67 seconds.
She then destroyed her own record in the finals with a time of 10:01.04. On top all of that, Bush earned All-American status and became only the second Spartan in school history to achieve that level in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
The first Spartan to achieve All-American status was Ann Somerville in 2002.
Bush talked about her preparation for the championships versus a normal meet. "There's not anything out of the ordinary," she said. "If you change more things it's going to make the meet more nerve-racking. So I guess I just approach it like any other meet."
Amid all of this, Bush has just been recently given an Olympic A Standard for her performances. At this top standard, Bush is given full access to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in California and can be automatically admitted into the Olympic qualifier in 2008, said Arndt-Molis.
Bush said she is still unsure about her prospects as an Olympic athlete.
"I mean, I haven't really thought about it. I guess it sounds good when other people say it," Bush said. "The way they say it makes it sound like a big deal, and I'm sure it is. But I guess I don't have a full understanding of what it really means. Right now, I would be in disbelief if someone told me, 'You're going to the Olympics.' It's just not something I focus on."
To collegiate scouts, Olympic critics, MSU coaches and student athletes, the sophomore runner is a credit to her craft and a celebrated all-star. But in the modest Spartan All-American's own mind, she hasn't won anything until she wins the next race.
"That's how she is in practice and in all competition," Arndt-Molis said. "She takes it very seriously, and the intensity is where it needs to be in order to be competitive. But that calm, controlled attitude is what helps her balance out."
