(Snowflake's Jordan Gardner)

Jordan Gardner is a mess before he sets foot on a track just before a race.

He works himself up so much that his stomach clenches up in knots. It's not a pretty site.

But once the Snowflake junior is in his lane, the ones that seem tied up are Gardner's competitors as he sprints away as soon as the gun goes off.

"When I step up to the line track is my life," Gardner said. "The track is my home. When I get there everything goes out, including the worries, and I just have to go out there and run."

Those darn nerves don't appear to be slowing him down.

Gardner is near the top of the rankings in the 800 meters regardless of class and is shooting for strong performances in three or four other events at state this week at Mesa Community College. Snowflake needs every point Gardner can secure if it wants to improve on last year's second place finish at state.

The problem for Snowflake, and everybody else for that matter, is that they are chasing Rio Rico and its heralded runner, Carlos Villareal, in Division III.

The University of Arizona-bound Villareal just happens to be one of the nation's top-ranked distance runners.

He currently holds the top times in the 800, 1,600, 3,200 and the one mile in the state.

Gardner had the top time in the 800 this season until Villareal's 1:54.81 during the Southern Arizona Championships. Gardner's personal best in the 800 is 1:54.31, but he's aiming for a 1:52 during this week's state meet, where Gardner also will compete in the 4 by 400, 4 by 800 and the 1,600.

He also qualified for the 400. Gardner has yet to beat Villareal in a high school race but is expected to set the pace in the 800 at state.

Jeff Miller of Page also is expected to give Gardner and Villareal a race in the 800, and the D-III 4 by 100 is shaping up to be one of the premiere races this weekend, when the relay teams of Rio Rico, Snowflake, Page and Seton Catholic are expected to put on a show.

"We want some revenge, so we hope we can pull something out," said Gardner about last year's state runner-up ending to Rio Rico.

Saturday's state finals and next year's state meet will likely be the final time Gardner will compete in a big non-national setting for a while.

He'll go on his 2-year Mormon mission after high school, but Gardner will continue to train when he can and wants to continue his running career in college. Don't bet on his competitive fire extinguishing.

"Jordan is a special athlete, but he works hard to be a special athlete," said Gardner's trainer and coach at Snowflake, Lynn Johnson. "His work ethic is amazing. I don't know anybody who works harder than him."

The same can be said about Gardner's classwork, where he's accumulated a 4.33 GPA.

Gardner's parents first caught a glimpse of Gardner's boundless energy at an early age, when he'd run around in church and parishioners asked 'Why can't his parents control him?'"

Gardner and his parents, Brian and Barbara, laugh about that now. Snowflake's 800 meter track star still makes a lot of noise while running around, but he does so on the track, the perfect outlet for for all of his energy. 

His parents have been there every step of the way for Gardner and will continue to do so at state. 

Brian is set to graduate from a nursing school this weekend, but he won't walk with his graduating class. He'd rather watch his son, nerves and all, compete this week.