Penning McElheny, Alyssa (2021)

Alyssa Penning McElheny is a 2009 graduate of GRCH and a four-year member of the very successful Cross Country and Track and Field Teams.

In Cross Country, Alyssa was on the varsity team for four years.  She was a three-time conference champion and was named to the All-Conference and All-Region teams all four years.  In 2005 and 2006, the Eagles, under the direction of Hall of Fame Coach Doug Jager, won back-to-back State Championships with Alyssa as the #1 runner on those teams. She was the Regional Champion in 2006 and 2007.  Alyssa was also a four-year member of the All-State team, finishing 16^th, 5^th, 4^th, and 10^th in the State Meets.  In addition, she was named Academic All-State and team MVP her sophomore, junior and senior years.

In the spring, Alyssa ran for Coach Jager on the Track and Field Team.  She was a versatile athlete and often competed in four events (the maximum allowed in a meet), but she excelled in the 4x400 meter relay and the 800-meter run.  She was named to the All-Conference Team all four years and was a member of the 2007 Michigan Track Coaches Association (MITCA) State Championship Team.  She was named to the All-State Team three times.  In addition, she was chosen MVP her senior year and was a member of the Academic All-State Team in 2009.

After graduation, Alyssa continued her running at Calvin College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Education.  She ran on both the Varsity Cross Country and Track and Field Teams all four years.  In Cross Country, she was a member of the Knights’ three national qualifying teams.  She was named first team All-Conference and All-Region three times.  In track, Alyssa was a 2-time conference champ and 3-time NCAA qualifier in the 3000-meter Steeplechase.  She was also named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll three times.

In 2011, Alyssa qualified for the Steeplechase at the NCAA National Track and Field Meet, just a day after returning from spending her spring semester in Spain. With no in-person coaches and no time for organized practice in Spain, she simply ran 60 miles a week, for four months.  Fighting jet lag, Penning lined up at the starting line at the “last-chance qualifying meet” in Illinois. It was the first time she stepped on a track that season.  With incredible strength and determination, she proceeded to finish as the 10^th seed, with a time that was 24 seconds better than her personal best. 

In 2012, Alyssa earned 5^th place and an All-American finish in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase at the NCAA Division III National Track and Field Meet in California.

Currently, Alyssa is a full-time wedding photographer.  She is also passing her love for running on to many young athletes.   She has coached runners at Wellspring Preparatory Academy, GRCHS, and GRCMS.  Since 2016, Alyssa has been an assistant boys and girls Cross Country and Track coach at Forest Hills Eastern with her husband, Daniel McElheny.  She credits GRCH Coach Doug Jager for much of their success.  “Daniel and I have learned so much from our time running for, and coaching with, Doug.  A great deal of what we do today as coaches is based on what Doug did for us and what he taught us.” 

What’s next for Alyssa?  Alyssa continues to run (up to 80 miles a week) and is training to qualify for the 2024 Marathon Olympic Trials.

Alyssa’s Favorite Scripture: Matthew 25:40

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’