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But how did any of her testimony seem to hurt Zimmmerman?

I don't know for certain, but I think it may be this. The prosecution's theory is that Zimmerman was chasing Trayvon all the way back to the truck. Zimmerman's deposition indicated that he walked back to the truck, and that Trayvon emerged from the darkness (hardly a description of someone running out of the darkness). The left-right direction of the running was back in the direction of Zimmerman's truck. It would be inconsistent with Zimmerman's story, and consistent with the prosecution's version of events. If the footfall was in the other direction, however, it is consistent with both versions of the story (I think), since that would presumably be from the initial running that Zimmerman did to catch up with Trayvon.

I don't know any of this for certain, but, if true, it would be why the prosecution would want this little embellishment. Otherwise, her testimony really doesn't seem to add much value.