Adel-DeSoto-Minburn senior Cross Country Runner Ella Popp reflects on the team’s joy after qualifying for the state meet as a unit.

Popp shares that her interest in running came from the challenge of the sport knowing that you’re able to push yourself to an uncomfortable level. She emphasizes that the biggest lesson her coaches taught her this year was moving on from a race that didn’t go as planned, and not letting it determine your self worth. The Tigers placed second as a team behind Pella at the State Qualifying Meet, which advanced them to Fort Dodge, and Popp says that moment was special.

“Because we all knew how hard we had been working and it was really rewarding to just know that you were each very uncomfortable during the race, but you kept going because you knew what was on the line.”

Popp ran 20 minutes and 57 seconds in the 5K at the state meet in Fort Dodge, and notes that she was satisfied with that time knowing that she bested her mark by 13 seconds and ran under 21 minutes, which was a preseason goal of hers. Following graduation, Popp will be attending Iowa State University to study Pre-Medicine.