Massive motivation: Austin runner stays busy in many ways - Austin Daily Herald

No matter the activity, Austin senior Marissa Shute is always on the move.

Shute is not only a standout runner for the Packer cross country and track and field teams and a guard for the Packer girls basketball team, she also shows cows and works on projects for 4-H, she is involved in FFA and she is also a National Honor Society member.

Shute's schedule is often full, but she wouldn't have it any other way as she has her mind set on her future.

"I'm always running around doing something," Shute said. "It definitely helps me focus on time management and even when I have my free time, I need to get my stuff done. It will be really helpful for college, because that will be the same way. You do what you need to do when you can get it done."

Besides attending county fairs, Shute spent much of her summer running, playing basketball and weightlifting. She's determined to set another PR time in cross country this fall and her best 5K team this season was 19:56.

Shute also has hopes of earning a fourth trip to the state cross country meet this year. She has also run in one state track and field meet during her sophomore season.

"Each race I try to knock off time and get closer to a PR," Shute said. "My goal for this year is to make it to the state meet again in my last year. I also want to make sure I'm there for my team. We'd like to go to state as a team as well."

Shute was once a young runner amongst a field of veterans, but now she is the leader of the team. She's already rubbed off on sophomore Sydney Lewis, who went to state with Shute last season, and she's also inspired seventh grade runner Aubrey Green.

"When I came in, I had my sister Cassidy and Nadia (Vaughn) on the team, who I looked up to. They kind of showed me the way," Shute said. "As I've grown up, I've become one of the leaders for others. I've tried to make it enjoyable for them. We're always encouraging those younger runners because they can do it. Aubrey is already knocking it out of the water."

Even after all of her years as a competitor, Shute still gets a big rush when she lines up on race day.

"When I get to that starting line with all of my teammates, I know that they all have my back and we're going to work hard for each other and have fun," she said.

While she doesn't have a college choice yet, Shute has hopes of running at the college level next year.

Austin's lone home meet will be held at Meadow Greens Golf Course at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 8.