Teammate a big part of his growth

As a sophomore, Adam Braun of Totino-Grace drew the ire of his distance running coaches for goofing off during a race.

Last weekend, Braun showed just how much he's grown by coming up huge in two pressure-packed races at the Class 2A True Team track and field state meet. The Eagles trailed Mankato East with two events remaining: the 3,200 and 4x400 relay.

Braun won the 3,200-meter race then just 15 minutes later ran a leg of the Eagles' victorious 4x400 relay.

What made Braun's performances more special was the presence of teammate Steve Dado, who placed second to Braun in the 3,200 and joined him in the 4x400. The pair have been friends and rivals for three seasons.

Braun spoke with Star Tribune reporter David La Vaque about the True Team meet, his relationship with Dado and getting in trouble as a sophomore.

Q Your coach, Chris Beach, said he had to confront you after a cross-country race your sophomore year. What happened?

A I got in trouble for goofing off during a race. The guys on the JV team threw up a tunnel for me to run through and I gave a fist pump. Turns out coaches were at the end of that tunnel and they weren't real happy. Coach Beach told me that was the angriest he's ever seen [assistant coach Rob] Edwards. So after that, I got it together and it was the Lakeville meet where I really started going for it.

A I would definitely not be where I am right now if it weren't for Steve helping me along. When I started out sophomore year, Steve already had the status of being the untouchable runner and the epitome of what cross-country and distance running is. So I definitely had him to look up to.

As I got closer to him, we just started really working together, started going back and forth at meets. This year, I have really seen Steve more as a teammate than a competitor in my races. We've really gotten closer.

Q You edged him in the 1,600 by five hundredths of a second. What gets said in a situation like that?

A In the 1-mile it really wasn't fair of me to take the win on that one, because Steve was leading the whole race.

Q So was there a some tension?

Q How did that race go leading up to you and Steve finishing 1-2 in the 3,200?

A It was me, Steve and Mubarik Musa from Worthington. We were all right there. I didn't even see Mubarik right next to me until there was about 50 meters left. I thought it was sweat coming off my eyebrow but it was his hand flaring up next to me.

Q Take me through the 4x400 relay team's run to victory.

A We started the race with Jake Schauer taking us out pretty well, then he handed off to me. That was definitely the scariest race of my life knowing there was someone on my tail and I needed to beat them. As soon as I handed off to Steve I just said, "Go!" He took off and then our final leg was Andrew Leonard and he definitely brought it home. It was just awesome.