University of Detroit Mercy Athletics

Career Highlights:

• 2x Detroit Mercy Athletic Director's Honor Roll (2023, 2024)
• Horizon League Fall Academic Honor Roll (2024)
• Horizon League Spring Academic Honor Roll (2025)

• Tallied a career-low 4:17.14 in the 1,500m for 22nd at the Chippewa Challenge
• Earned 38th in the 5,000m (16:01.07) at Oakland's Elaine Leigh Invite
• Ran 4:19.62 in the 1,500m for 27th and 16:39.20 for 31st in the 5,000m at the Horizon League Championships 

• Posted a career-low 8:58.99 for ninth in the 3,000m at the SVSU Classic
• Ran a career-best 4:36.46 for 18th in the mile at EMU Bob Parks Memorial
• Claimed fifth in the 5,000m in 16:00.72 at the Akron Invite
• Placed 24th in the 5,000m (16:10.77) and 34th in the 3,000m (9:20.28) at the Horizon League Championships

• Made his track debut placing 18th in the 5,000m (16:00.32) and 22nd in the 1,500m (4:18.51) at Eastern Illinois
• Ran a season-best 15:54.36 for 24th in the 5,000m at Oakland's Golden Grizzly Invite
• Posted a season-low 35:01.63 for 18th in the 10,000m as well as 16:19.85 for 37th in the 5,000m at the Horizon League Championship

• Did not compete in any events

• A multi-year letter winner in cross country and track and field
• A two-time team captain in cross country and track and field
• Earned All-State in cross country as a junior and senior
• Was ninth at the Montana AA as a junior, helping his team win a championship and was 11th as a sophomore for a fourth-place team finish
• In track and field, placed seventh in the Montana AA 3200-meters as a senior

• Son of Sarah Jones-Popiel and Brian Popiel
• Has an older sister
• His grandfather ran track at Minnesota
• Chose Detroit Mercy because of the Architecture program and a chance to run at the Division I level
• First-ever Titan recruit from the state of Montana
• An Architecture major