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Girls cross country: Marasco's making her mark at Schaumburg

The Schaumburg list for all-state girls cross country runners is long, littered with talented runners who have made their mark for the Saxons.

There is Janeth Salazar and Brenda Fleming, three-time all-staters who led the Saxons to their first state title in 1982.

Lana Macnider and Katie Donlon are also on the list as part of the 1999 Class AA state title group.

And then there's Karen Lesiewicz, Colette Falsey, and Britten Petrey who were all-state runners and led the Saxons to the 2010 state title.

But there is one name on that list still adding to her legacy.

Schaumburg senior Maddie Marasco has already earned her spot by earning two all-state medals in cross country. She's also collected three all-state medals in track, and she is not done yet.

Marasco enters the season as one of the top runners in the Mid-Suburban League and is eyeing another run for a state medal.

"It does motivate me," said Marasco of the former Saxons greats. "I want to work off what they did. I look at their times and say 'Wow.' I really want to get up to where they are at and try and hit their marks."

Now Marasco is the one doing the wowing.

Marasco picked up her first cross country state medal as a sophomore, taking 16th in Class 3A in 2015. Last year she continued to be on the move, finishing third in the MSL and then taking eighth at the Class 3A state meet.

Marasco has also done it on the track. At the 2015 state track meet, she combined with Rachael Vaccaro, Lauren Kubinski and Valerie Schackelton to earn a second-place medal in the 3,200 relay, and last spring she added to her count by securing a fifth-place medal in the 3,200 relay and a fifth-place medal in the 800.

And she didn't stop this summer, as Marasco finished second in the 1,500 at the USATF National Junior Olympics in late July.

"I feel really humbled," said Marasco of her accomplishments. "I don't think I could have done it without all the support I had. Just with the training, the different styles of training, trying to commit to it and do the best I can. It's been a good experience."

Second-year Schaumburg coach Kristin Zillmer knows a bit about running. She was an all-state cross country runner for Maine South in 2007 and 20008 and she has had a front row seat for her senior's ascent.

"Her dedication is what blows me away," said Zillmer, who says he has to reel in Marasco's intensity on occasion. "She wants to go hard all the time. But she loves running and cares so much about the sport."

Marasco has had her deal of setbacks, including coming back from a knee injury suffered in soccer before her freshman year. She has also dealt with ankle injuries.

But last season, nothing could slow down Marasco. She narrowed the gap between former Prospect's two-time defending MSL champion and three time all-state runner Brooke Wilson and Barrington's two-time all-state runner Jocelyn Long.

And at state, Marasco clung to the two frontrunners to secure third place, showing a bit of grit in the final mile to gain her second consecutive medal.

Then last spring, she took first in the 800 at the MSL meet and then came back from running a solid leg in the 3,200 relay to take first with a personal best 2:13.85 at the Bartlett sectional, which led to a fifth-place finish at the Class 3A state meet.

"She waited for the last 200 meters and blew everybody out of the water," said Zillmer of her special 800 run at Bartlett. "I can't think of too many races where she blew up and ran bad - she's just always on her 'A' game."

The affable Saxon runner is just as approachable with her smile off the course or track as she is as competitive on it.

Former Schaumburg girls cross country coach Jon Macnider knows a bit about all-state runners. The Hall of Fame coach led the Saxons to five state trophies, including 3 state titles, and he coached 23 all-state runners during his 31 years in leading the program.

So, where does Marasco fall among the Saxons greats?

"She is obviously one of the best at Schaumburg," said Macnider who retired in 2011. "There's a long list and she ranks right up there and she just seems to be a great kid."

The sun was starting to fade on a late August afternoon and Marasco was just returning from a pre-season run.

She took a moment to consider how far she had come and what she still wanted to accomplish.

Sure, there are the battles in the MSL that are impending, including a chance to go up against Long again. And yes, there will be the pressure of the state series that includes Glenbard West super sophomore Katelyn Hart the defending Class 3A champion.

Then there is the Schaumburg all-state list that she is still eyeing.

In some ways it is a bit surreal for her, especially when she recalls looking at that list her freshman year when she was still running above 20 minutes.

But the Saxons runner who is a self-described science freak still has bit of unfinished business.

"It's weird, it feels like I was just a freshman yesterday," said Marasco. "I never thought I be able to do something like this and to have my name up there with the other Saxon's runners has been an honor."

"I just want to do the best I can and try to make this one of the best seasons I've ever had and leave a mark on the school."

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