19 “If I want to do something, who’s to stop me,” she said. “I’m 100% in the driver’s seat when it comes to running. I make every decision. I run the race. It’s not a team sport. Everything about it is on me. So why can anybody tell me ‘no.’” Popehn’s love for running isn’t just about her own career. She volunteers with Girls on the Run, an organization that encourages young girls to stay active and build confidence. “Watching girls discover running is amazing,” she said. “It reminds me of why I fell in love with it myself.” For Popehn, success is about more than winning. It’s about the work she puts in day after day. “Everyone lines up wanting to win,” she said. “But it’s the work you put in long before race day that truly sets you apart.” When she’s not running, Popehn stays active in other ways. She enjoys playing pickleball and golf, spending time with her two dogs, and coaching recreational runners, helping others reach their own goals. Even though her career has taken her far from Aberdeen, South Dakota, she stays connected to Northern State University. She keeps tabs on the Wolves’ track and crosscountry teams and is proud of the time she spent as a student-athlete. As the 2025 G.O.L.D. Award recipient, Popehn’s story is one of perseverance, passion and dedication. Her journey from the classroom to the Olympics shows what’s possible when you follow your dreams and put in the work to achieve them. Dakotah Popehn sits down with Northern State University Athletic Director Nate Davis at a question and answer event Jan. 23, 2025 at the Johnson Fine Arts Center.
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