When you walk into Glaser Stadium Plaza and head toward the football stadium bleachers, a framed list of all the track and field records at St. Xavier High School is hard to miss.

The first name that stands out is Bobby Curtis. The 19-time Kentucky state champion is one of the greatest long-distance runners in the commonwealth's history. In 2008, Curtis became the NCAA champion in the 5,000-meter race, clocking 13:33.93 for Villanova.

The next athlete on that list with multiple entries is junior James Burnett.

Burnett holds school records in the 200 and 400.

"He's the best sprinter that we've had. And very much arguably in school history," St. Xavier track and field coach David Stewart said. "He's getting close to that 100-meter school record, so I think it'd be hard to argue against him being the best sprinter in the school's history. ... We've had a string of excellent sprinters coming through, and James is kind of the epitome of that right now."

Burnett has been running track since elementary school. When he stepped on the track as a freshman at St. Xavier, his talent already was evident.

"His sophomore year, for some reason, we put him in a 400. We've been looking for somebody to break our school record in the 400 since I started coaching here 13 years ago. He ran sub-50 the second time he raced a 400. We're like, 'OK, this guy's a sophomore; that school record of 49 is in serious danger,' " Stewart said.

As a sophomore, Burnett's winning time in the 400 at the KHSAA Class 3A state meet was 48.64.

In the same meet, he placed third in the long jump (22 feet, 2 inches) and fifth in the 200 (21.83).

This year, Burnett won the 100, 200, 400 and long jump in the Class 3A, Region Three meet. On Saturday, he will compete at the Class 3A state meet in Lexington.

Burnett is seeded first based on his performance in the regional in the 100, 400 and long jump; he's second in the 200.

"I want to win all of them. I see myself realistically winning 400, long jump and 200," Burnett said.

Burnett said he used to struggle with the pressure, but now he zones in and performs at a high level.

"I say to myself, 'I'm James Burnett,' " Burnett said. "Sometimes I say, 'I'm a god, I'm a god, I'm a god,' and I go out there and just run."

Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at pstory@gannett.com and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA track and field: St. Xavier sprinter seeks to make mark in 3A