Freeport senior runner Michael Braun commits to ‘No. 1 choice’ Penn State

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 | 6:40 PM

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Michael Braun first made contact with Penn State cross country and track and field coaches in late August and quickly developed a rapport.

“They expressed some interest, and we just went from there,” the Freeport senior distance standout said.

Braun paid an initial visit to the University Park campus and made a second stop Sept. 22, the day after he competed at the PIAA Foundation Invitational on Hershey’s Parkview Course.

“I still had my choices kind of narrowed down, but after the first visit, that became my No. 1 choice,” said Braun, who also was being recruited by Pitt, N.C. State and Michigan.

“With my official visit, I got to meet the team and learn more about the programs and the campus. Pretty much after that, I decided I wanted to go there.”

And that is where he will be going. Braun on Tuesday gave a verbal commitment to join the Nittany Lions cross country and track and field teams.

“With the facilities, they had everything I needed and wanted,” Braun said.

“Obviously, it’s nice to have access to an indoor track. I already knew some people there from running against them in high school and who I was friends with, so there were already a number of familiar faces, which was nice. It was cool to see them all at the next level.

“I really like the campus. It’s nice that it’s its own thing, and there is a lot of rural space to go on runs. It’s just a beautiful campus.”

Braun said as he gained more of a foundation in distance running, the potential grew to eventually become an athlete at the Division I level.

“After eighth grade track, I knew there was something that could develop if I stuck with it,” he said.

“That was reassured after my ninth-grade year, especially after my track season that year. I could see what I could become if I continued to listen to my coaches and put in the work.”

Braun said he is grateful for all of the friends, family members, teammates and coaches who have helped and encouraged him along the way to the point where he can make the Division I decision.

He said he is happy to have the decision finalized.

“It is definitely a relief,” said Braun, the 2023-24 Valley News Dispatch Boys Athlete of the Year.

“Most of my coaches and people around me advised me to have my decision done by the fall because it is not something you want to carry over going into track season. It is definitely good to get it done now and be able to focus on the rest of the cross country season and then the indoor and outdoor track seasons.”

Braun is enjoying a strong final cross country season in which he has earned top-three or better finishes at all four of his invitational runs. That includes firsts at two races at White Oak Park, again the site of the WPIAL championships on Oct. 24.

“The end of summer wasn’t great with some hip issues that sidelined me for the first couple weeks of the season,” Braun said. “But coming back from that, I’ve been improving each week and feeling a lot better. My confidence is definitely growing heading into the postseason.”

He mastered the Class 2A boys field at the Red, White & Blue Invitational Sept. 7 at White Oak. His time of 15 minutes, 49.30 seconds was nearly 6 seconds better than runner-up Clark LaLomia, a senior from Quaker Valley.

Braun then tackled the challenging Northmoreland Park course at the Kiski Area Invitational on Sept. 13. He placed second (16:21.30) to Ethan Vaughan, a senior from Class 3A Fox Chapel.

Braun was third in the Class 2A race (16:29) at the PIAA Foundation Invitational on the Parkview Course on Sept. 21 in somewhat of a preview of the state-championship meet Nov. 2.

He improved his time from Red, White & Blue by 11 seconds to 15:38.34 in his return to White Oak for the Bald Eagle Invitational last Saturday. His performance helped the Freeport boys take first with as a team.

Braun said he is excited not only for his personal goals for WPIALs and states, but he’s confident the boys team is ready to challenge for a top-four spot at WPIALs in Class 2A, which would also mean a trip to the PIAA championships.

“That is going to be exciting to watch,” Braun said. “We’re pretty darn close with some of the other top teams. They take the top four teams, and we’re currently ranked fourth. We’re right there.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Freeport