Nic Butts winning class 3A
Nic Butts had a great run at State, winning class 3A over a competitive field. It was the seniors first State title. Now Butts has his sights set on bigger goals and proving he can not only run with the guys in class 3A but the best at Nike South. Check out our Q&A with Whitesboro senior Nic Butts.
Texas MileSplit: Describe your emotion heading into the meet. What were some of your goals knowing it was your last cross country State meet?
Nic Butts: I'd say it's hard to bring it down to just one emotion, having the team with me I had to keep it together, I've always tried to influence positive thinking into the team because I believe that is the only thing that a runner can control in the ever so changing world of theirs.
So I'll say happiness, I was happy that I was able to bring the team, I was happy that I was healthy, and mainly I was happy to finally be able to show what I had been training for all year since the summer.
Texas MileSplit: How did you prepare for the conditions? Also knowing the defending state champ was in the race?
Nic Butts: As bad as it sounds, I really didn't do anything special. I thought in my head about how everyone has the same conditions, this race is still about who wants it more and who has put in the effort to be named the champion. Talking about Kyle, he's honestly been my main motivation, he's a great kid and an even better competitor and I hope for him the best in this track season as well as next year. The weeks in between regionals and state I would work on my finishing speed, after harder workouts I'd do strides just purely on the fact that I knew it would be a battle to the finish and I was hoping this time I'd be in front. But in the end my move towards the middle helped me not have to work so hard at the end.
Texas MileSplit: Can you describe what it was it like racing in all the mud? What was your strategy?
Nic Butts: Scary, that added variable of trying to not only stay on your feet as well as watching to see if someone else fell, mini rivers and spectators on the course? Strategy was to stay up off the ground (I failed this goal twice) and if it weren't for my teammates, Lee and Michael, I'd still be floating down a river in round rock.Texas MileSplit: How did it come about that your teammates could slap you in the interview if you won? What was the bet?
Nic Butts: Back towards my sophomore year our school and Im sure many others came up with the simple game of slap bets. Yes it's as stupid as it sounds. I was talking about how hard someone got slapped on time during a warmup the week before state and two of my teammates, Max and Michael, came upon the the bet as seen in the interview. Happily I accepted, hoping that they'd forget. They didn't.
Texas MileSplit: What are your post season plans, are you running Foot Locker or NXN? If so what are your goals there?
Nic Butts: I'll be running NXN South, goals are to make the team.
Texas MileSplit: What are you looking forward to about running post season and being able to mix it up with runners from other classes, and other states? What would it mean for you if you moved on to the National meet?
Nic Butts: I think I have a question mark over my head after state last week and I'm ready to kinda prove that 
just because I'm a "3A" runner doesn't mean that I'm not as good as some of the bigger boys.
just because I'm a "3A" runner doesn't mean that I'm not as good as some of the bigger boys.Texas MileSplit: Have you been looking at colleges? What are some of the ones you're interested in?
Nic Butts: I have, since this xc season has really been my breakout season, I wasn't able to take as many visits as I've wanted to this year, so this has forced me to not sign now, but instead after track, but big things are coming this track season. I've taken a official visit to SFA, and have been offered a visit to U of Portland and Oklahoma University.
Texas MileSplit: What makes Nic Butts such a strong runner?
Nic Butts: I'd have to give all the credit to my Dad, he's a very strong willed, honest and hardworking guy. His handwork and dedication has really rubbed off on me throughout the years.
Texas MileSplit: Finish this sentence Nic Butts is... ____
Nic Butts: #1, #never forget
P.S. Shout out to Coach Urban, I'd never be able to be where I'm at without you as my coach, as soon as got my medal I tried to give it to her because she's the real champion, especially with keeping up with my shenanigans all 4-5 years.
Nic's Post Race Interview
| M 5,000 Meter Run - Finals | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place | Athlete | Team | Result | Points | ||
| 1 | Butts, Jeffrey | 12 | Whitesboro | 16:03.89 | 1 | |
| 2 | Roberts, Buster | 10 | Luling | 16:08.33 | 2 | |
| 3 | Doty, Kyle | 11 | Bruceville-Eddy | 16:24.53 | -- | |
| 4 | Schreckhise, Christian | 12 | San Antonio Cole | 16:29.44 | 3 | |
| 5 | Phillips, Will | 12 | Chapel Hill | 16:38.98 | 4 | |
