JEFF FIELDER Editor
SCOTTSBLUFF – Christopher Busby, a senior track and field standout at Scottsbluff High School, has been named Nspire Today!’s Male Athlete of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance. Busby is one of the top sprinters in Nebraska, and he’ll be competing at the state track and field meet Friday and Saturday in Omaha in the 100 and 200. He was last year’s Class B 100-meter state champion. Busby plans to attend school and compete in football at Chadron State College, and he said he might participate in track and field there, too. His parents are Cassandra and Cornelio Busby.
Q: Describe how your track and field season has gone up to this point?
BUSBY: “It’s gone pretty well for me. I’ve had some ups and downs dealing with a few injuries, but I’ve dealt with them, and I feel like I’ve overcome them.”
Q: What kind of injuries have you had?
BUSBY: “I’ve had to deal with my quad. It hasn’t been feeling too well, so when I run, it kind of hurts, so I have to do a lot of icing to get it good again. But it’s been feeling better lately.”
Q: Have you participated in track and field all four years of high school?
BUSBY: “No, not all four years. My freshman year I got hurt long jumping and after that I thought I would take a break. Then my sophomore year, I decided not to run track, and then my junior year I came back out and ended up winning the 100 at state.”
Q: How much fun are you having this season, especially being a senior?
BUSBY: “I’ve had a lot of fun, especially when it comes to the whole role model deal. Everybody looks up to you, so you always have to put forth your best effort. I think it makes you work even harder. Being a role model has been a big key for me my senior year.”
Q: What events have you competed in this year?
BUSBY: “This year I’ve done the 100, 200, 4×100, and I’ve long jumped.”
Q: Which event is your favorite?
BUSBY: “My favorite event is the 100 just because it’s a full sprint.”
Q: What is your best time in the 100 this year?
BUSBY: “My best time this year is a 10.8.”
Q: How passionate are you about track and field?
BUSBY: “I’m very passionate about track. I treat it the same as I would a football game. You want to go out there with the same mentality – that you’re going to win.“
Q: How glad are you that you decided to come back out for track and field your junior year?
BUSBY: “I’m really glad. I’ve gained a lot of fun memories from being in track. Also, I feel like track has made me a better person in general. It teaches you a lot about how to work hard.”
Q: How much has competing in track and field helped you in football?
BUSBY: “It’s helped me a lot, especially when you’re behind someone. It teaches you how to chase someone – how to never give up and to keep pushing hard.”
Q: How excited are you to keep playing football at Chadron State College?
BUSBY: “I’m really excited about it. It’s a good opportunity for me.”
Q: What position will you play at CSC?
BUSBY: “I’ll probably play running back, but we’ll see.”
Q: Does it seem surreal to you that your high school career is over?
BUSBY: “It’s gone by really quickly. I can remember my freshman year like it was yesterday, and now I’m a senior. It’s crazy.”
Q: How enjoyable was your senior year?
BUSBY: “I’ve had fun. I feel like the school and the community have really supported me and helped me through this process of becoming a high school graduate.”
Q: What’s your top memory from your high school career?
BUSBY: “Making it to the state championship game in football. That was really exciting. Nothing beats that memory.”
Q: What do you plan to major in at CSC?
BUSBY: “Right now, I really don’t know. My first year I want to focus on my general classes, and then my second year I want to see what career I really like. In high school, my career academy was business, but I’m going to consider other careers, too.”
Q: What do you see yourself doing 10 to 15 years from now?
BUSBY: “I see myself being a boss and, hopefully, running my own business.”
Q: Have you always lived in Scottsbluff?
BUSBY: “No, I’m from California. I moved here when I was about 6 years old.”
Q: Where did you live in California?
BUSBY: “Compton.”
Q: What brought you and your family to Nebraska?
BUSBY: “My dad works for the railroad [BNSF].”
Q: Do you have any brothers and/or sisters?
BUSBY: “Yes, I have two brothers [Nate and C.J.] and a little sister [Jasmine].”
Q: How much have you enjoyed living in Scottsbluff?
BUSBY: “I’ve enjoyed it. I love it because you get to know everybody in your community. It’s a safe environment to grow up in. You really don’t have to watch over your shoulder. You feel welcome here. I really like Scottsbluff. It’s a good place.”
Q: Do you remember much about growing up in California?
BUSBY: “Yes, I remember quite a bit. I remember it was very loud, and life was very fast-paced there.”
Q: Do you remember how you felt when you learned that you and your family were moving to Scottsbluff?
BUSBY: “My reaction was, ‘What’s Nebraska?’ It was a big culture shock, but I enjoyed it.”
Q: How much fun have you had attending Scottsbluff High School?
BUSBY: “I’ve had a lot of fun at Scottsbluff High School. I get along with everybody. It’s a good school to be at. They have great teachers, and it’s a great environment to be in. They help you with whatever you need.”
Q: Which teacher has made the biggest influence on you?
BUSBY: “There are three of them. Shelby Aaberg is a math teacher, and he’s a really good guy. I feel like he’s helped me through my junior and senior years dealing with grades and everything. He’s been a big help to me. Also, Jud Hall has been really helpful to me. He’s been a good mentor to me. He’s always been a person that I could talk to. He was also my offensive head coach in football. He’s just a really good guy in general. Another person who’s really helped me is Joe Benson. He was my head coach in football, and he’s been a good mentor to me, too. He showed me the way in football and made my love for it grow even more.”
Q: Obviously, the Scottsbluff football team is losing a lot of great senior athletes. Do you think the Bearcats will continue to be a strong team in football this fall?
BUSBY: “I feel like Scottsbluff has the pieces to be a good team again. A lot of really good kids will be coming back, so I think they’ll continue to have success.”
Q: Who’s your favorite professional player?
BUSBY: “Growing up, I was always a fan of Reggie Bush. I just liked his running style and how he was always slick. He always wanted to find a seam. He never really was a contact guy, but when he had to he would.”
Q: What was your favorite class in school?
BUSBY: “I love history. I’m a big history guy. I love learning about the past, and it’s good to learn about the past so the past doesn’t repeat itself.”
Q: Outside of school activities, what do you like to do for fun?
BUSBY: “I like to work. I have a friend, Evan Heggem, whose dad is Justin Heggem. He has his own business, and he gives me little side jobs to do. It’s fun because I get to hang out with my friends. It keeps me busy and keeps me focused.”
Q: What are your plans for this summer?
BUSBY: “This summer I’m going to focus on my weight. I’m going to try to get bigger. Right now, I weigh 175, so by [this fall] I would like to be 180 or 190. I’m really going to work on my game this summer.”
If you would like to nominate someone for Nspire Today!’s Athletes of the Week, sponsored by Kristy Culek Agency, you may do so by sending an email to jeff.fielder@nspiretoday.com or by mailing a letter to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. Nominations may also be submitted by sending a text to 308-220-8865.
In addition to being recognized online, athletes of the week will also be recognized in Nspire Today! magazine. To sign up for a one-year subscription (12 issues) to the magazine, please send $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. To pay with a credit card, please call 308-220-8865. If you would like to increase your subscription to $20, Nspire Today! will donate the extra $5 in May to Camp Scott.
For all your insurance needs, visit The Kristy Culek Agency, LLC-American Family Insurance, located at 1012 Ave. I in Scottsbluff, or call 308-632-8598.
