Michael Popejoy 2007-08 Track and Field Roster

AS A JUNIOR: Had a strong junior season both on the cross country course and on the track … placed ninth at the National Catholic Championship cross country meet … ran the 8,000-meter course in 25:20 … placed 114th at the Notre Dame Invitational … raced well at the NCAA Pre-National meet, covering the course in 25:13 … closed his season at the BIG EAST Championship, running 24:53 for 47th place … set several career bests during the indoor track season … nearly earned a BIG EAST qualification in the 3,000 meters at the Notre Dame Opener, covering the distance in 8:35.13 … ran the mile in 4:21.28 at the Notre Dame Invitational … had a great run in the 5,000 meters at the Meyo Invitational, qualifying for the BIG EAST indoor meet with a time of 14:39.56 … ended up finishing 16th at the league competition … best 5,000 meters of the outdoor season as a 15:06.30 showing at the Central Collegiate Championship … had a huge race at the Stanford Invitational 10,000 meters … ran 30:39.07 to set a career best and qualify for the BIG EAST outdoor meet … took 16th in both the 5,000 and 10,000 at the league meet, once again breaking 31:00 in the latter with a time of 30:54.90 … the fortunes of the Irish distance squad will rely heavily on his ability to put together a successful 2007-08 season.

AS A SOPHOMORE: Ran three cross country meets for the Irish … took 12th overall at the Valparaiso Invitational in 26:37 … ran 26:12 on the Notre Dame home course at the National Catholic Championship, finishing 28th overall … competed in the Notre Dame Invitational Gold race, placing 98th in 26:41 … found the bulk of his success on the track in the 5,000 meters … ran 15:02.89 at the Blue & Gold Invitational, qualifying for the BIG EAST Indoor Championship … ran the 3,000 meters at the Notre Dame Invitational, posting a time of 8:40.69 … ran three different events during the outdoor campaign … top 1,500-meter time was 4:06.00 at the Indy Relays … posted his best 5,000-meter performance at the Notre Dame Spring Opener, running 14:49.72 and earning a berth in the BIG EAST Outdoor Championship … ran the 10,000 meters at the outdoor league meet, finishing 12th with a time of 32:01.48.

AS A FRESHMAN: One of Notre Dame[apos]s strong young distance runners … competed in the early indoor track season, logging a time of 9:05.58 in the 3,000 meters at the Notre Dame Opener.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Lettered all four years in cross country and track while at Wheaton-Warrenville South High School … Chicago Tribune Scholar-Athlete nominee … all-state in cross country as a senior … earned the same distinction in track as a sophomore … placed 10th at the FootLocker Midwest Cross Country Championships, which placed him on the All-Midwest second team … four-time all-conference cross country runner … three-time all-conference performer in track … sectional champion as a sophomore in the 3,200 … won regional cross country title as a junior … owns school records in the indoor and outdoor 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters … has career-best times of 4:20.9 in the 1,600 and 9:15.5 in the 3,200 … honorable mention academic all-state … class valedictorian and member of the National Honor Society in high school … 2004 Illinois State Scholar … father ran cross country at Michigan State … born Nov. 30, 1985 in Winfield, Ill. … second oldest of five children … enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters as a philosophy major (3.85 cumulative grade-point average through spring 2006) … has made Dean[apos]s List three of first four semesters at Notre Dame, highlighted by a 4.0 GPA during spring 2005 term and a 3.933 in the spring 2006 semester.