Austin Montini

Making Strides

Speed won’t last forever. The impact you have as a leader will.

Austin Montini has always been fleet of foot. He made the varsity track and cross county teams in 7th grade and was soon outpacing everyone else on his teams. He’s captained both squads throughout his high school career; set school, district, and state records; won 11 state medals, and been named his community’s Runner of the Year twice. But Austin knows the day will come when he will no longer post a 15:20 in a 5k. While he’s deservedly proud of that personal best, he takes even greater pride in the lasting impact he can make as a leader both on and off the track.

“Nothing makes me prouder than giving back to the sport I love,” Austin says of his role as president and CEO of ReRun Sneakers, Inc., an organization that partners with One World Running to deliver gently used running shoes to impoverished areas around the world. He knows first-hand what a lack of basic necessities can do to a runner’s performance: He saw a friend devour a giant cheeseburger moments before a race because the food was available then, and there was never enough to eat at home. That friend ultimately suffered severe cramping on the track that cost him the national championship. Through Austin’s volunteer hours and leadership with ReRun Sneakers, he is doing his part to help runners around the world access necessities that will help them tap into their potential.

Closer to home, he’s committed to his teammates’ success as much as his own and is a champion of inclusivity in sports as well as academics. Austin led a campaign to ensure that student-athletes are given every opportunity to fully contribute to academic clubs, including the competitive Junior Classical League, of which Austin is now president. As captain of both the cross country and track teams, he works hard to ensure the team’s younger runners are fully embraced—an experience that was not afforded to him when he first made the team. Looking back at pictures from his team’s runner-up finish at last year’s state championship, Austin says, “the biggest smile came from our smallest teammate,” a sixth grader who was chosen to accept the trophy on the team’s behalf. “A leader has a true impact and I hope my experience and contribution will have a lasting impression on my team.”