Last night, under the lights at Valparaiso High School, Braden Bachmann secured his spot at the IHSAA Track & Field State Finals. Competing against the best distance talent in Northwest Indiana, Bachmann finished 3rd in the 3200-meter run, clocking a blistering 9:33.45. With a trip to the State Finals requiring a top-three finish, Bachmann executed a masterclass in patience and composure. While the field battled at the front, he sat comfortably in the chase pack, crossing the first mile in a relaxed 4:53 before steadily moving up throughout the race. Over the final two laps, Bachmann completely separated himself from the rest of the field, closing his final 800 meters in a blazing 2:13 with splits of 1:07 and 1:06 to comfortably secure the final automatic qualifying spot. Braden will wrap up his historic junior campaign next weekend at the IHSAA State Finals at North Central High School. Congratulations, Braden!