Elena Hayday

Elena Hayday
Personal information
Born1999 (age 26–27)
Bloomington, Minnesota
Sport
Country United States
Events
Marathon, half marathon
College teamUniversity of Minnesota
Achievements and titles
Personal bestsMarathon: 2:24:45
Half marathon: 1:10:56

Elena Hayday (born 1999) is an American distance runner, who specializes in the marathon. She competed in the 2024 US Olympic Trials and was the third American finisher at the 2026 Chicago Marathon.

High school and college

Hayday grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota and attended Jefferson High School. There she placed as high as 34th at the Minnesota state cross country meet. She also won multiple state titles on the track as a member of relay teams. Hayday continued running for the University of Minnesota as a walk-on. She ran personal-best times of 17:10 for 5000 meters and 5:21 for the mile, but she never qualified for an NCAA Championship.

Career

Hayday quickly moved up in distance after graduating from college in 2021, placing 26th at the 2021 USA Half Marathon Championship. In 2022, she placed tenth at the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and 20th at the USA 10-Mile Championships.

In 2023, Hayday placed 16th at the Houston Half Marathon (1:11:38) and seventh at the Grandma's Marathon (2:30:51). Both of these results qualified her for the 2024 United States Olympic Trials (marathon). She was unable to finish the 2024 Olympic Trials race. Later in the year, she finished sixth at Grandma's Marathon and tenth at the Twin Cities 10-Mile.

In 2025, Hayday took 12th at both the USA 20K Championship and the New York City Marathon. She began 2026 by winning the Terrier Invitational 5000 meters at Boston University in a time of 15:30.

Hayday improved her marathon best to 2:24:45 at the 2026 Boston Marathon, which placed 13th overall and sixth among Americans.

In September, she was the runner-up at the 2026 USA 20K Championship behind Rachael Rudel. Hayday was regarded as one of the top American contenders at the 2026 Chicago Marathon. She ran 2:24:57 to finish 13th overall and third for Americans behind Emma Grace Hurley and Dakotah Popehn.

Personal

Hayday lives in Minnesota. In addition to running, she is a graduate student in neuroscience and a researcher for the National Institutes of Health.

References

  1. ↑ "Elena Hayday". Golden Gopher Athletics. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
  2. ↑ "Elena Hayday". TFRRS. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
  3. 1 2 3 "Elena Hayday". World Athletics. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
  4. ↑ "2024 Olympic Trials Marathon Results". RTRT.me. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
  5. ↑ Davern, John (2026-01-30). "Elena Hayday Jumps Down To 5K Distance For BU Win". Flotrack. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
  6. ↑ Lorge Butler, Sarah (2026-04-20). "American Women Place 4 Runners in the Top 10 at Boston, Led by Jess McClain". Runner's World. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
  7. ↑ "Elena Hayday: The Girl Who Challenges The American Marathon Elite". The Marathon Podcast. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
  8. ↑ Colecraft, Kwame (2026-09-07). "Kieran Tuntivate, Rachael Rudel win Faxon Law New Haven Road Race championships". CT Insider. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
  9. ↑ Gault, Jonathan (2026-10-08). "2026 Chicago Marathon Women's Preview: Brigid Kosgei's Back, Sharon Lokedi Races a Fast Course, & Emma Grace Hurley Debuts". Let's Run. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
  10. ↑ Kuzma, Cindy (2026-10-11). "Emma Grace Hurley Runs 2:20:47 to Smash American Debut Record at the Chicago Marathon". Runner's World. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
  11. ↑ Aronson, Craig (2026-10-12). "USA women's top finishers at the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon". World Track. Retrieved 2026-10-22.
  12. ↑ "Elena Hayday". Oiselle. Retrieved 2026-10-22.