In May 2013 Cade Burks was just happy to be part of the Division I 800-meter state final contingent. He was the only freshman to qualify that year. Did well. Won his heat. Then took a seat to view the second heat.

"It was fun watching that next heat," Burks recalled. "You had (Cibola's) Bernie (Montoya), (Highland's) Logan Woolf, (Corona del Sol's) Nate Rodriguez and (Rincon's) Ryan Silva going at it. There was a lot of high-end talent out there. Some of them nationally. They were fast."

That they were. Montoya,who owns the state record in the 800 and 3,200, set the state record that night in 800 (1:50.19). The top five runners in that heat timed out under 1:55. Montoya swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at the meet. Rodriguez went on to sweep the same events the following year. Burks realized with that type of talent in front of him he would have to be patient. His turn, if he acquits himself this week, may have arrived.

Fast forward to now. The Perry senior brings the top times to the D-I finals in the 800 and 1,600 on Wednesday (May 4) at Mesa Community College. His season best in the 800 occurred  two-and-a half weeks ago at the Pioneer Invitational (1:55.37). His top time in the 1,600 is 4:18.28 and was clocked at the Chandler Rotary in mid-March. Burks completes his participation on Saturday (May 7) anchoring the 4X800 relay and competing in the 3,200.

"I've been watching others run since I was in middle school and there have been so many good ones," Burks, who is headed to Northern Arizona University in the fall, said. "I saw (Tuba City's) Billy Orman set records (1,600 and 3,200). And then all those guys my freshman year".

With all the competition he witnessed the past five years in particular and all the distance state records falling, it might have persuaded him to compete in a sport other than running. No such luck.

"I played football through junior high and I ran," I knew the choice I needed to make. Decide if I wanted to be a mediocre football player or be a great runner. It wasn't much of a choice."

Burks has made steady progress in his prep career, despite all the talent he's bumped up against. He's won his share of invitationals, mostly this season, as experience and maturity have helped him prevail.

Some of his triumphs in 2015-16: In cross country he won the prestigious Doug Conley Invitational. At the D-I state meet he sheared 34 seconds off his time from the previous year to finish at 16:03 -- second to Desert Vista's DJ Harris. After finishing 11th in the 800 as a freshman, he's nabbed runner-up honors at state in the 800 the last two seasons -- to Rodriguez (1:52.97) in 2014 with his career best time of 1:54.22 and to Corona's Jacob Onofrio in 2015.

He and Onofrio ran in different heats last year. Onofrio's heat was the "slower" heat, although not much separated those competing in the two heats. Burks won the 'fast" heat and Onofrio the "slow" heat. Onofrio's time was better. They will compete in the same heat this year and there are plenty of other runners hungry for the 800 title.

"My heat came out super-slow,," Burks said. "The first lap was like 60 or 61 seconds. That was the difference."

What the last two years' results in cross country and track add up to is no individual state titles for Burks. That motivates. As does an admittedly disappointing junior campaign.

After the 2014 cross country season (his junior year) concluded he was lethargic. After consulting a naturopath, the finding was a lack of some key nutrients. Treatment helped replenish. When track  ended five months late, Burks concluded the physical part wasn't the main issue.

"I was low on some nutrients," Burks said. "It was as much a mental thing as anything else. I was seeded No.1 in track most of my junior year. I just didn't get it done....

"Last year I thought I could step up. Be the one. I need it to be my turn this year."