Ep #73 Alyssa McElheny: From Olympic Trials to HYROX Elite 15

On this episode of the Hybrid Sport Media podcast, we sit down with rising HYROX star Alyssa McElheny following her breakthrough Elite 15 qualification at the Warsaw Major, where she ran an incredible 55:56 - the third-fastest HYROX women’s time ever. We dive into her background as a professional marathon runner, her journey to a 2:34:27 marathon and qualification for the 2028 US Olympic Marathon Trials, plus how she transitioned from pure endurance running into one of the fastest-rising athletes in fitness racing. Alyssa breaks down the biggest differences between a marathon engine and a HYROX engine, the challenge of compromised running, and what surprised her most stepping into the Elite 15 field.We also talk about her rapid progression in the sport, balancing marathon training with HYROX prep, lessons learned from Warsaw, and how she’s preparing for the Elite 15 World Championships in Stockholm. If you want insight into what it takes to compete at the highest level in both endurance running and HYROX, this episode is a must-listen and Alyssa is definitely one to watch!