Pryor’s John Burns
Pryor High School senior John Burns has built his cross country career on consistency, curiosity and a competitive edge that shows up when the race gets tough.
Burns, a senior varsity runner, posted a personal-best time of 17 minutes, 17 seconds at the 2025 Metro-Lakes Cross Country Conference meet in Pryor, a mark that reflects years of steady work and commitment to the sport.
“Consistency and commitment,” Burns said when asked what athletics has taught him. “To get good at anything you have to stick with it even through the hard times and make sure you’re consistently putting in the work, even if you only put in a little bit sometimes.”
That mindset carries over into competition, where Burns focuses on the runners around him to stay motivated.
“I’m usually thinking about trying to beat people that I know by name or not losing to people I also know by name, especially my teammates,” he said.
Burns credits much of his inspiration to coach Jamie Nofsinger, whose life experiences extend far beyond running.
“Not just because he was a collegiate runner, but also he has lived out an interesting life,” Burns said. “He has been to Germany and basically everywhere in Southeast Asia. He knows Mandarin Chinese, a very specific dialect of Tibetan, and more languages. If I could live a life half as interesting as his I would be fulfilled.”
While running is often an individual sport, Burns values the team aspect just as much as the competition.
“Not being alone on runs more than 3 miles and having friends that I can make connections with,” he said about what he enjoys most.
Outside of cross country, Burns spends his time playing games, watching anime and being with his girlfriend. He also enjoys running throughout Pryor, typically sticking to roads and sidewalks during practice. Burns’ favorite subject is math, and he cites Mrs. Brown, his first- and fourth-grade teacher, as his favorite educator. Looking ahead, Burns plans to attend the University of Tulsa, where he hopes to continue running while pursuing a degree in cybersecurity.
He carries with him a simple but powerful piece of advice that has shaped his approach to racing.
“Push out the voice inside of your head telling you to stop,” Burns said.
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