Meet the Team: ELLEN VANDEN EYKEL

It's time to meet our team! In a series of posts over the next week (or so), we will introduce you to each of our team members. Today we are starting with our most unique last name, the one and only Ellen Vanden Eykel. Read on!

Ellen Vanden Eykel
BA Theology and Youth & Pastoral Ministry, St. Mary’s University, 2006
MA Christian Doctrine, Marquette University, 2008
Hometown: Blue Earth, MN
Occupation: Assistant Cross-Country/Track & Field Coach at Marquette University, Associate Director of Youth Ministry at St. Joseph and St. Mary’s Visitation

Collegiate Stats:
· Indoor Track - 1000m: 2:59.63 - Mile: 5:06.34 - 3000m: 10:25.75
· Outdoor Track - 1500m: 4:39.88 - 5000m: 18:09.53
5000m Outdoor MIAC Champion (2004)
1500m NCAA DIII National Qualifier (2004 and 2005)
· Cross Country - 6K: 23:28 - 5K: 19:20

The first two years of Ellen’s collegiate career as an athlete might be considered a typical NCAA Division 3 Cinderella story. She came out of high school as an average distance runner and by her sophomore year in college was a finalist at the National meet in the 1500m run. In her following years there wasn’t the continued dramatic improvement she saw early on, but continued to learn what it meant to be an athlete and her passion for learning continued. Vanden Eykel saw her movement to graduate school an opportunity to develop not only her theology studies, but also her athletic learning. After college she wanted to “...go to the next level as an athlete. Legs and lungs can only do so much but there was still a lot to learn and I was excited to learn from athletes and coaches at the Division 1 level.”

What is your interaction between running and youth ministry?

“Coaching and youth ministry are a lot a like.” According to Vanden Eykel, both words take a lot of self-motivation, determination, commitment, and willingness to face adversity. It takes having to put oneself out there. “Both are countercultural. There isn’t a lot that makes teenagers think religious education or going to church is cool. That’s what it’s like to be an athlete in a sport like ours that can be very lonely as well. Getting out of bed to run when it’s raining, snowing, you’ve been up too late the night before.”

What gets you hyped to be part of this team?

Ellen really likes the idea of a group of women all living in the area, excited and passionate about the sport, wanting more than just the same name on jersey. Her main focus of excitement is being a part of a TEAM, not just a sponsored athlete or racing as an advertisement for a local business. “There is a reason I haven’t been interested in joining a team before; an entry fee and jersey weren’t important to me. Camaraderie is an important incentive that I know this team will provide!” Look forward to Ellen proudly representing Milwaukee in local, regional, and national competitions soon!

What are two of your Milwaukee favorites?

Favorite Milwaukee running store: Performance Running Outfitters!
Favorite Milwaukee running spot: Cudahy trails

The previous Ellen Koranda was recently married to husband Eric Vanden Eykel and the couple resides in Whitefish Bay, WI, with their dog, Dallas.