Nico Montanez fondly remembers the loving connection he shared with his great grandparents Alberto and Emma, whom he says he was blessed to have in his life until he was a young teenager.
Years ago, they moved their family from Nogales, Mexico, to Tucson, Arizona, in search of a better life. While the pursuit of the American Dream hasn’t always come easy for ensuing generations, Montanez, a 29-year-old professional runner with the Mammoth Track Club, has a relentless work ethic that he believes is rooted in his elders.
Montanez, who was born in Tucson, is proud of his Mexican-American heritage, but his inner drive this summer has been fueled by the opportunity to represent the U.S. for the first time in his professional career. Montanez will compete in the marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest on August 27, along with U.S. teammates Elkanah Kibet and Zach Panning.
“I think it’s such an honor to represent the red, white, and blue,” Montanez said. “I think of my great grandparents and how they came to this country and made a better life for our family and made it possible for me to do what…
