Century Runner Earns Gatorade Honor

Century senior, Maura Linde has been named 2010-2011 Gatorade Maryland Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year.

The honor, in its 26th year, is awarded by Gatorade and ESPN Rise. The accomplishment takes in more than just running, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the course.

Linde captured her third consecutive individual title while leading Century to their second straight team title.

Maura Linde captured the 2A girls cross country crown to lead Century to a repeat of the team title. She covered the Herford course in 19:10.

Linde was also the fastest Maryland runner at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional championships, taking 30th place in 19:22.1.

In the classroom, Linde has a 3.62 GPA. She is an accomplished violinist, along with being a four-year member of Century’s orchestra. Linde has also volunteered locally for community service initiatives on behalf of the National Honor Society and the Girl Scouts of America.

Linde will continue running in college as has committed to an athletic scholarship at Syracuse University this fall.

“Maura Linde is an incredibly hard-working student athlete,” said Century High Head Coach Kristin Hadden. “She has shown her team that hard work and dedication can help you achieve great things.”

Linde joins Gatorade Maryland Girls Cross Country Runners of the Year Anna Bosse (2009-10 & 2008-09, Walter Johnson), and Louise Hannallah (2007-08, Winston Churchill) as athletes who have won the cross country award since its inception in 2007.

She is a finalist for the Gatorade National Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year award to be announced this month.

For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit the website here.