Calvin graduate Alyssa (Penning) McElheny has qualified for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Women's Marathon trials. A 2013 Calvin graduate, McElheney clocked in with a time of 2:34.24 at the CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon this past weekend. Her time was well under the needed qualification standard of 2:37.00 needed to compete at the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials which are scheduled to be held the weekend of March 25-26, 2028. The 34-year old McElheny ran at a pace of 5:54 a mile to garner her qualifying time. She was 125th overall and was the fifth place female finisher at the race.

Also a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School, she becomes the second female from Calvin to have qualified for a U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials as her former Calvin teammate Nicole (Michmerhuizen) Pascual qualified for and competed at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women's Marathon Trials.

At Calvin, McElheny was a standout distance runner, earning All-MIAA First Team cross country honors in 2010, 2011 and 2012. As a freshman in 2009, she was part of a Calvin women's cross country team that took third at the NCAA III Championships. She made her biggest mark in outdoor track and field, claiming NCAA III All-America honors in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, placing fifth in the race at the 2012 national meet. She was a two-time MIAA steeplechase champion and a two-time All-MIAA (outdoor) track and field honoree.

Her husband Daniel McElheny is also a former Calvin cross country and track and field athlete. The McElheny family resides in Belding, Michigan.