When students at St Joseph’s Primary School, Charlestown were asked to come dressed as their favourite sporting star, the playground was always going to be filled with famous names. 

Year 5 students Izzy Sawang and Airlie Wilcher chose someone much closer to home. Miller Austin. 

“She’s very good at running and she’s my favourite sports star,” Izzy said. 

Airlie had no hesitation either. 

“Miller. Because she’s my best friend and she’s also really good at sports. She is my favourite sports person. Out of everyone in the world I chose Miller because she’s really fast at running and she made it to Nationals.” 

It says something about the impression Miller has made on those around her. At just 11 years old, the Year 5 student is already one of Australia’s best young runners, collecting state titles, national medals and records across cross country and middle-distance running. 

Her latest achievement is her biggest yet: Miller is now a national cross-country champion after winning gold at the School Sport Australia National Cross Country Championships in Sydney in September. 

Just weeks earlier, St Joseph’s had swapped uniforms for sporting colours, with students dressing as their favourite athletes and raising money to help Miller get to the championships. A lolly jar guessing competition drew plenty of interest, although the longest lines were reserved for the chance to throw wet sponges at Miller and her teacher, Mr Joseph Watts. 

Miller loved seeing the school get behind her. 

“I really appreciate it. They really care about me and that they want to watch me strive high,” she said. 

Running has been part of Miller’s life since she was eight, when an athletics carnival revealed a talent her family did not know was there. 

“It was at my old school, at my first ever athletics carnival, and my parents were like, ‘She can run!’ Then they found a coach, and then I just got better and better from there.” 

She is not wrong. Last year, Miller won the Catholic Schools NSW Cross Country Championship, took silver at the NSW PSSA Championships and earned her first NSW selection. 

At her first School Sport Australia National Championships, she claimed silver in cross country on the Gold Coast before winning bronze in both the 800m and 1500m at the National Athletics Championships in Canberra. 

“Last year at my first ever Nationals for cross-country and athletics, I was really proud of myself for getting there and then placing in the top three for both cross-country and athletics.” 

This year has brought even more success. Miller defended her Catholic Schools NSW cross-country title, won two NSW cross-country titles and finished second at the Australian Athletics Cross Country Championships in Ballarat. 

On the track, she has continued breaking records. After setting new Maitland-Newcastle Diocese marks in the 800m and 1500m last year, Miller returned this year and broke both of her own records.  

The medals and records are piling up, but Miller’s answer when asked what she loves about running reveals a lot about what drives her. 

“I love setting goals for myself and working hard to achieve them, and running, I just love running in general.” 

The big races still bring nerves. 

“I always get really nervous,” she said. “So, most of the time, I just talk to my friends and just try to keep my mind off getting nervous and just thinking about the race and having fun.” 

The races that do not go to plan have taught her something too. 

“That there’s always another race coming and to push harder next time and see what I can do better.” 

Ahead of the national championships, Miller’s goal was characteristically measured. 

“Top three again. I like to set more realistic goals because anything could happen.” 

Something did happen. Miller went to Sydney and won, becoming the School Sport Australia national cross-country champion. 

Pulling on the NSW uniform is one of her favourite parts of competing at that level. 

“It feels like a huge goal achieved, like a huge goal has been ticked off. And I love the feeling of putting it on and just being like, ‘I have a race to run and I’m representing New South Wales’. I can’t wait!” 

There is another uniform Miller hopes to wear one day. 

Miller’s biggest running idol is Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull. She had the chance to meet her and watch her train earlier this year. 

“She’s so kind and she’s the second fastest in the world at the Olympics for the 1500 metres. She’s my biggest idol. When I met her, she was asking me about my races, and it was just so cool. It was an amazing experience.” 

Miller dreams of following Hull onto the Olympic stage, perhaps as soon as Brisbane 2032. But running is not Miller’s only sporting talent. She also plays soccer for Newcastle Olympic and has ambitions there too. Ask Miller to choose between the two and she struggles. 

“I don’t know! It’s so hard. I love both of them, but I feel like I could go to the Olympics for the 2032 running and then soon I could go play for the Matildas. That’s my goal: to go to the Olympics for running and to play for the Matildas.” 

Airlie sees no reason her best friend should have to decide either. 

“Well, she’s also really good at soccer as well. She’s good at both. Shouldn’t have to choose; she can just do both.” 

Miller will be 17 when the Olympic Games arrive in Brisbane. There are plenty of races to run before then and her plan for getting there is simple. 

“Working hard. I have to set myself the goal to get there and then work really hard to achieve it.”

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