Maggie Toczo's 2014-15 season was going along very nicely. She earned a cross country state medal by finishing 7th and she ran a big personal best in the indoor 3000 while winning the PTFCA Indoor Carnival.
But things took a turn for the worse in the spring and her first half success did not translate into the spring season. Toczko missed the state meet for the 3rd year in a row, and is the only state meet she has yet to compete in.
"The end of my track season was very frustrating," said the 3 time XC state qualifier. "I was not responding well to the type of training I was doing."
Now it's her senior season, and it is her last opportunity to get everything right from day 1 to the very end.
Despite the tough junior outdoor season, the Tunkhannock senior set a goal to finish in the top five at the upcoming state cross country championships. Her first step on that journey was the Spiked Shoe Invitational at Penn State.
So when Toczko made her season debut at State College on September 11, she had one simple goal.
"I went into the race not thinking about the win. My goal was to run sub 19."
Mission accomplished.
Toczko was victorious in her season debut, running a then state leading 18:38 to earn her first ever invitational cross country win!
Toczko hinted that change in the training plan has been key to her early season success.
"This summer I switched gears to more strength based training and have found that this benefits me more," said Toczko. "I am running more miles."
Toczko will hope that those extra miles will add up to bigger rewards. Districts will be her 2nd big race of the season, meaning her focus has changed.
"My training has been consistent since Spiked Shoe," said Toczko. "I am more focused on the overall quality of all my runs and workouts."
That quality and consistency could lead her to her first career district title. Her best finish was 4th place back in her freshman season. She's never finished worse than 7th at districts, and she has medaled twice at states.
She will have to chase down AA state champion Ally Rome of Dallas and the emerging Erin Feeney of Scranton Prep.
"Since they are my friends, it is just exciting to compete against them," said Toczko. "I respect their talent and think we can all bring out the best in each other."
And if they bring out the best in her, it could lead to a grand finish to her high school cross country career.
