Ken Popejoy is regarded as one of the greatest cross-country champions in Illinois history. A 1969 graduate of Glenbard West High School, he earned All-American honors, was an All-State miler and cross-country champion, and won the State mile championship. As a high school senior, he finished second to track legend Steve Prefontaine with a mile time of 4:09.3.

At Michigan State University, Popejoy excelled in both track and cross-country, earning multiple MVP honors, and was named Big Ten Mile Champion and NCAA Indoor Mile Champion in 1972 and 1973. A two-time NCAA All-American in cross-country, he also earned All-American honors in track in 1970, 1971, and 1972. His 3:57.0 mile time remains a school record, and he set an NCAA record for five consecutive sub-four-minute miles in 1973.

Continuing his passion for running, Popejoy became a world-class masters runner, winning national and world championships in the 1500 meters. Committed to giving back, he co-coached Olympian Jim Spivey and volunteered as a track coach at North Central College in Naperville. Outside athletics, Popejoy serves as a circuit court judge in DuPage County. Married to his wife Karen, they have five children, with his older sons following in his footsteps as competitive runners at Wheaton Warrenville South High School.