Elena Hayday
Residence: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Date of birth: 11/01/1999
Hometown: Bloomington, MN
Occupation: Graduate student at University of Minnesota Graduate Program in Neuroscience
College: University of Minnesota - Twin Cities​ Neuroscience B.S.,- Dec 2021
Favorite Pre-Race Meal: kids squeeze applesauce pouches
Favorite Pump-Up Song: Hot Blood - KALEO
Funniest Mid-Race Thought: I once started an NCAA cross country race with my GPS watch on and didn't realize it until about 800m in. I panicked and just threw off the side of the course -- luckily I did find it later.
Personal Bests
5,000m
10,000m
10 Mile
Marathon
15:44
32:31
54:18
2:30:51
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Achievements
2024 -5th place finish at the USATF 10 Mile Championships
2023 - 7th place at Grandma's Marathon.
Elena grew up here in the Twin Cities and attended Bloomington Jefferson High School, where she was a two-time all-state honoree. She was a part of school record-setting teams in the 4x400m and 4x800m relays, and ran personal best times of 59.52 (400m), 2:16 (800m), 5:17 (1600m), and 11:40 for 3200m. She attended the University of Minnesota as an undergraduate, competing unattached as a freshman, and in cross country during her second year. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her collegiate career, and she ended up shifting to road running as she finished up with her college career and beyond.
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Elena has already done some impressive work on the roads, including a 5th place finish at the USATF 10 Mile Championships, where she ran 54:18. She qualified for the USA Olympic Trials Marathon with a 7th place 2:30:51 run at the 2023 Grandma's Marathon. While the Trials did not go according to plan for her, she rebounded with some PRs on the track throughout the spring of 2024, setting marks of 15:44.00 in the 5000m and 32:31.41 in the 10,000m. Elena returns to Minnesota in pursuit of both a graduate degree in Neuroscience and with aims of continuing to explore her potential as a runner.
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Elena joined Minnesota Distance Elite in August 2024.