Now she has her sights set on the United States.
The year 13 Mount Aspiring College pupil won gold at the Australian secondary school cross-country championships in Hobart on Saturday. Burke (18), who was representing New Zealand for the third time at the championships, ran the under-20 women’s 6km course in 21min 10sec, just pipping fellow New Zealander and friend Bridie Edwards, of Nelson, by 1sec.
"I actually don’t know how far back she was because I was kinda busy, but the whole way we were leading it shoulder to shoulder and at the end I just tried my hardest to get her."
The next day she was part of the team which came second in the under-20 women’s relay. Her success at the championships topped off what has been a winning year, claiming the under-20 title at the New Zealand cross-country championships in July and second in both the Australian and New Zealand under-20 5000m races.
Burke, who has been running competitively since she was 15, will now take a short break before getting herself ready for the national track championships in December and club nationals in March.
Do well at those events, and she hopes offers of scholarships to universities in the US will follow.
"I’ll get better personal-bests in track this season to hopefully boost my appeal to the universities."
How the scholarship system works is still a bit murky but Burke has already been contacted by some coaches.
"It’s all a bit hit and miss from New Zealand’s perspective. Some people do it different ways but so far it seems they ask and I’ve had some coaches contact me directly but it seems you can also apply, so we will see."
Helping Burke reach that goal is her mother, Val, who is also an exercise phycologist and endurance coach.
"Well, I think for me it’s the best having Mum as my coach. She’s not pushy or anything, she’s both my mum and my coach but I still have a lot of freedom to do what I want."
"It’s handy though when I have a problem. I can just ask her what should I do instead of sending an email or talking over the phone."
Once she has completed the university system, Burke wants to return to New Zealand and compete for her country at the world championships and ultimately the Olympics.
"I want to have that experience in the States of racing in the university system and all that goes with that, then I can come back in four years and run for New Zealand."
