Parkland’s Maddie Zaun, a calculating and talented cross country runner, ended her Trojan cross country career Nov. 3 with a strong showing at the 2018 PIAA Cross Country Championships in Hershey.

Running on a course that was subjected to a downpour the night previous and by wind gusts on race day, Zaun, the only Trojan girls runner, finished 32nd overall out of 228 participants in the Class 3A category. She completed in 20 minutes and 18 seconds.

The senior runner strived for a good start.

“My strategy was definitely to get out fast,” Zaun said. “I have to be in that top 50 or so because it’s important. So I got out fast not to be stuck in with people.”

As the race unfolded, Zaun made her move.

“Once I settle in, I just kind of find my place,” she said. “When we get to the hill, I want to pass girls on the hill because it’s a really tough place for girls to recover from that. You know, they’re not going to want to come back from that.”

As the race reached its midway point and latter half, Zaun implemented the rest of her game plan.

“Once I get there I kind of settle in on the downhills,” she said. “Then in the last mile I take it and try to just go as hard as I can and just have a strong last mile.”

Throughout the 2018 campaign, Parkland cross country coach Loretta Dodson noted Zaun’s maturity has been an asset.

“She’s coachable,” said coach Loretta Dodson. “The main thing is for some of the girls on the team to learn from her.

“It was her senior year and she had a lot of stress and a lot of stuff going on “ Dodson said. “She didn’t let it bother her. She learned from things and went with it.”

Zaun said she’s motivated to run.

“I like the feeling that you get afterward,” Zaun said. “You’re proud of yourself. You’re proud of your team when they’re running. Today was a little different, but you feel like you accomplished something. You feel like you put some work in. That’s always good.”