'It was pretty crazy': Former Turpin standout Samantha Bush reflects on college career

On Nov. 18, 2023, former Turpin running standout Samantha Bush finished in 28th place at the NCAA cross country national championships to help North Carolina State win its third straight team title, edging out Northern Arizona University by one point.

While at Turpin, Bush was a four-time qualifier for the cross-country state championships and a six-time individual qualifier for the track and field state championships. She initially struggled with the transition to running in college, but has since become a seven-time All-American in cross country, indoor and outdoor track. On the track, she has run top 20 times in school history in five events and has been a part of two record-setting relays.

The Enquirer caught up with Bush to talk about being a part of three championship teams, the differences between high school and collegiate running, and how she is preparing for the final months of her career at NC State.

Vote: Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky high school athlete of the week, Feb. 19

Let's start with the most recent national championship. What did it feel like to win a third straight team title?

Bush: "It was pretty crazy and kind of emotional since it was my final year. Coming into the season, we weren't ranked No. 1. We were ranked second, so expectations were a little lower, but we were still able to win. So it was pretty crazy."

What were some of the challenges behind this year's team?

Bush: "Every year, there's a different top five, top seven, like our team changes, whether it be people leaving the team or injuries or eligibility. But this year, we still had me, Katelyn (Tuohy) and Kelsey (Chmiel) who have been there for all three years, and that was something that we were really happy about.

"We had a couple freshmen we were counting on. We had people running for their first season that we were counting on, and then Kelsey got injured. I was coming back from an injury, and we had a new transfer who is new to the team also coming back from an injury. Then Katelyn the week of (nationals) being sick. So we were kind of breaking down and feeling stressed out. But I think that's why when we won, it was even more of like, 'Oh my gosh!' because we had a lot of uncertainty, especially with our top people that we had the most trust in."

There's a video of Katelyn embracing head coach Laurie Henes after she found out NC State had won the team championship. What was the reaction from the rest of the team after you found out you had won?

Bush: "When you finish, you don't really know if you won yet, and for some reason, I thought we won. I was pretty certain that we won. I don't really know why I thought that. I think it's just because we were competing against NAU. Those were the people we needed to beat, and I passed them at the end and I could see, since I kind of came from the back, I could see other teammates also pass them. So, in my head, I felt like we for sure won.

"I was telling everybody we won, and then once I realized we only won by one point, I was like, 'Wow, I was way too confident.' I'm glad we actually won because that would've been really awkward if we didn't. So that was basically all of just hoping, and then once we found out, everyone freaked out."

You recorded seven personal bests during the 2021-2022 season. What did that teach you about your ability as a collegiate runner?

Bush: "That was, I guess just like a breakthrough season. All in all, I came into that season wanting to just make the national team for cross country because the years prior, I didn't make it. I just wanted to go to nationals, like, I just wanted to be in the top seven. I put in the work to be top seven and to be top five and actually win that year, and then I think that just drove momentum and then I started PRing in all this stuff."

"When you're on such a good team, what I learned is to be good on the team means to also be a good runner. So I guess that's what I learned about myself. (My teammates) pushed me to be the best runner I could be and that just translated in my individual races."

What was the transition from Turpin to NC State like?

Bush: "Coming out of high school, obviously college is harder, but I guess coming from Ohio, it was a little easier to be good in Ohio than it is to be good in college. So I feel like it took me a couple of years to kind of get in the groove of college running and then wanting to be the best in college. That step up from high school to college, it took me a couple of years."

Throughout your career at NC State, what lessons have you taken from Laurie Henes, as well as your teammates?

Bush: "A lot of different perspectives from a lot of different people. For Hannah (Steelman) and Katelyn and Kelsey and all of those good runners, their own personal stories with running and injury and where they came from and completely different high school stories were kind of inspiring because it doesn't really matter how you start. It's kind of crazy how we come from such different places, but we're on the same team and working together. So that was really inspiring, just to see different perspectives."

"Coach Henes, her coaching philosophy was kind of similar to how I thought in high school, but on a much higher level, like however I think of running, but on a 'We're trying to win nationals' level instead of just trying to win state in high school."

"It was really overwhelming at first because the training was a lot harder. Katelyn taught me hard work. All the work that she's put in and just lessons from running races. She's been in high-level races most of her running career. So, just advice on how to handle the pressure, I think all of us benefitted from it because we never felt pressure like the third time winning nationals."

How are preparing for the rest of your indoor season, and getting ready for the outdoor season?

Bush: "I'm trying to make it in nationals at ACCs, like I'm going to try and run a fast time to make it into nationals for one of my events, so I'm just hoping I make it in there, and then nationals is two weeks after that."

"I think my time will qualify for the 5K at nationals, but I don't know if my 3K time will make it yet, and the DMR, the distance medley relay. We're trying to make it to nationals in that one, too."

"I'm excited for outdoor because it's going to be my last season, so it's got to be the best one."

How often do you come back to Cincinnati? What are your favorite things to do while you're here?

Bush: "Christmas break, usually. In the summer, it depends. Sometimes the full summer, sometimes, like, a month."

"I like to catch up with my high school friends. We like to go to Pepp & Dolores. That's our favorite restaurant. My favorite coffee shop is Coffee Emporium. I always go there."

"Bass Island Trail, that's probably my favorite (running route)."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Samantha Bush talks running at Turpin, North Carolina State