Logan Popelka Makes Massive Opening Statement

* Wylie's Logan Popelka in the 400m at the Bluebonnet Invitational

Photo Credit: Roderick Pernetter

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COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS -- Sometimes, it's just your weekend. 

And after two days of action at the Texas A&M Bluebonnet Invitational, that honor may have gone to Wylie High School senior Logan Popelka, who shined across two finals and earned a U.S. No. 1 and a U.S. No. 2 all conditions outdoor time in the 400m and 200m inside E.B. Cushing Stadium on Saturday. 

The Boston University signee dropped a nation-leading mark of 46.66 in the 400m (race video above) in an epic battle against Brenham's Eric Hemphill, the UIL Class 5A runner-up at the distance in 2021, before adding the wind-aided 20.95 mark in the 200m as he walked away with two dramatic victories. 

Both served to highlight Popelka's penchant for second-half moves. 

In the 400m, where he was lined up in Lane 7 next to Hemphill, he trailed at the 200m mark when the Brenham athlete surged on the curve. 

But once Popelka hit the straightaway, he seemed to switch into another gear and with 50 meters left he began to cover the gap in an instant, surging past Hemphill en route to his time of 46.66. Hemphill finished second in 46.86, authoring a U.S. No. 3 time. 

Both Popelka and Hemphill had entered the weekend with superb resumes. Hemphill had clocked a 47.45 at the UIL Class 5A State Championships in 2021, while Popelka had finished off his junior season a year ago with a PB of 47.01 at the AAU Junior Olympics. 

The race expected to be thrilling. But perhaps both extended expectations with dual elite performances on Saturday. 

Nearly an hour later, Popelka stepped to the track again for the 200m (below). 

Featuring in Lane 6, the Wylie athlete yet again found himself in a hole by the 100m mark. Fort Bend Ridge's Cayden Broadnax ran a nearly perfect curve, finding himself in the lead as the straightaway presented itself. 

But yet again, Popelka came through in the clutch, posting the first sub-21 second race of the Texas season. 

Boys 400m Results

Boys 200m Results