The inspiring story behind All-American Jalen Elrod

Purdue’s track standout, previously featured on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, embodies ‘The Persistent Pursuit’ through and through

Purdue women’s track star Jalen Elrod finds herself on the precipice of capping an illustrious—and unexpected—career in West Lafayette that has seen her ascend from walk on to All-American and winner of the Golden Petes’ Persistent Pursuit Award, bestowed upon a single student-athlete across Purdue Athletics for their remarkable dedication in the face of significant challenges.

While the path from Elrod’s home in Houston to West Lafayette is marked by unmistakable triumph, it did not come easy. Soon after arriving at Purdue, tragedy struck her family when her Houston home burned down, taking the life of two loved ones in the process.

But despite the hardships, she’s continued to chase her dream, one that has already culminated in a school record in the pentathlon.

To understand her journey, the nexus of Elrod’s resilience and exceptional mindset, let’s rewind.

It all began with the races from the bus stop to home. It was Jalen Elrod vs. her older brother, Tre. Sibling vs. sibling. Elrod vs. Elrod.

“Trey never let her win,” fessed their father, Maurice. “I don’t think he could beat her now.”

Not many people can.

“What makes her good?” says Raffael Craig, Purdue’s combined events coach. “She is very coachable. She works hard, too, and wants to get better. And she comes from a great family.”

It was family that supported Elrod and fueled a passion for track that began at seven, when girls her age were still riding their Razor scooters.

“I found her one Saturday morning watching YouTube videos of Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Flo-Jo (Florence Griffith Joyner),” says Maurice Elrod. “I was like, ‘She should be watching cartoons. What are you doing?’ I had no idea where she picked that up, but she was very locked in at a young age.”

Determination was already taking root. Elrod had two goals: To be a physician and to go as far as she can in track.

Her career took off after high school, when she enrolled at nearby Prairie View A&M. Although Elrod was recruited to run the 400 and 800 meters, the team had others who were a cut above her at the events. That’s when a teammate piped up and said Elrod had competed in the heptathlon before.

Elrod was hesitant. Really? The heptathlon?

But, soon, a star was born. She finished fifth in the heptathlon as a freshman in the SWAC championship meet. And Elrod never looked back.

For the uninitiated, the heptathlon consists of three running events (100 hurdles, 200 meters, 800 meters) and four field events (long jump, shot put, javelin, high jump). Elrod’s strong suits: long jump, 800, and hurdles.

Elrod wanted to explore what else was out there beyond Texas and Prairie View A&M. She had aspired to attend Purdue out of high school, but the track roster was full. Now, she’s a centerpiece of the program, arriving in West Lafayette ahead of her junior year in the summer of 2023.

But tragedy soon followed. Shortly after she arrived on campus, her family home was destroyed by a fire that took the life of her paternal grandmother, Cornelia Elrod, and her family cat, Dexter.

“I knew things were bad when my dad called,” recalls Elrod in a hushed tone. “I never in my life had my dad tell me to sit down. I was really confused.

“I was able to sit and cry along the side of the road in my car just outside of Mackey Arena after finishing practice,” she says. “It was a lonely time. I had just moved here. I didn’t know anyone. It was hard to deal with the grief, showing up at practice with a smile on my face.

“It was devastating to our family. You never expect something like this. We are a dope family, full of love, laughing, joking. When something like this hit hard, it’s difficult to shake to this day, if I am being honest.”

The Elrods had to move in with their maternal grandmother to a nearby small one-story house.

“It’s hard to acclimate to something like that,” Elrod says.

Within a year, the Elrods would receive an unbelievable blessing: The family was chosen for the show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition—the prize: A new house.

“A work friend of my mom encouraged her to sign up for it,” says Elrod.

She did.

Around 1,000 applications in the Houston area were submitted.

“We aren’t gonna get it,” Elrod recalls thinking. “There are others who need it more.

“But we got an email in the summer of 2024 saying we were a finalist. They showed up to interview us, and surprised us that we were the winners. We were all crying. It was a heartfelt moment. We ran outside, embraced each other, and cried. We talk about it a lot. We can’t believe it actually happened.”

But the joy of winning is muted by the circumstances that allowed it all to unfold.

“The reason we were chosen is unfortunate,” says Elrod. “You are taking a win, but at what cost?”

Elrod leans on her faith and family to get her through. There is a sense of ease and comfort when she talks. She is comfortable in her own skin, a combination of confidence and playfulness that is grounded in strong parenting.

Mom Regina is a counselor, while Dad Maurice works in marketing for the Houston Texans. There was plenty of love in the Elrod home. And plenty of nicknames for middle child Jalen.

“My dad calls me Doodle,” she says, giggling. “Not sure why. Pumpkin. Sometimes it’s Pumpkin-Doodle. LISH is another one. LL COOL J.”

Adds her dad: “She is listed in my phone as Doodle.”

And every Sunday, you’ll find Doodle and her family of five assembled in a pew in a Baptist church deep in the heart of Texas.

“I am blessed to have the family I do,” says Elrod, who also has a 12-year-old sister, Samiah. “My mom and dad have been so good to me. I love them to death. People say I am smiley, bubbly, jokey. Then, when people meet my parents, they see why. They are goofy and very smart. I get advice from them on everything. I love their faith in us and Christ.”

It was that upbringing that instilled the values Elrod carries today, hundreds of miles from home. It’s not just about her—it’s about others. Specifically, it’s about serving others—a lesson learned around the holidays, when all were welcome at the Elrod table. And Elrod has continued a life of service while in West Lafayette.

• She wrapped and picked out presents as part of the Salvation Army Angel Tree project.

“I love Christmas,” says Elrod. “It was fun. I got to fill bags with toys from a list. I said: ‘I’m gonna pick out the biggest Barbie Dream House for this girl that I can.’ It was cool to help families and bond with teammates, too.”

• She has delivered Thanksgiving meals to needy families.

“I have been delivering meals for a few years,” says Elrod. “We used to do it for my church (back home). My mom was always big on helping others during the holiday season. We did that a lot in Houston.”

The reaction of people in the Lafayette area made it all worth it.

“People were very appreciative,” she says. “They are surprised to see these prominent athletes at their door deliver a basket for Thanksgiving.

“It makes me feel warm inside. It also pulls the heartstrings a bit. Some families lack the means to buy food or make a big meal. We wanted to make it special. It was a heartfelt moment.”

• She has worked with seniors at nearby Westminster Village, where Elrod engages with people suffering dementia. She was introduced to dealing with the ailment through a class at Purdue.

“It was something I needed,” she says. “I had a grandfather who passed away from dementia. I didn’t understand the disease. Sometimes, he knew me; sometimes, he didn’t. Then, when I took the class, I learned how to interact with those suffering from dementia and what they are capable of.

“When I worked with people, I imagined they were my grandfather. They don’t have many people who spend time with them.”

Elrod formed a bond with one particular resident while helping with art projects and motor skills: Mary.

“She just wanted someone to listen to her,” says Elrod. “Look at her pictures. She’d say, ‘Have a Coke with me.’ “

For Elrod, it’s about balance. About becoming the best version of herself not just as an athlete, but as a human. And while the Golden Pete Awards committee saw this in her – saw her strength, her selflessness, her resilience and inspiring story worthy of the Persistent Pursuit Award, Jalen still strives for more. A fitting sentiment for such a winner.

“I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything,” she says.

Elrod will compete in the heptathlon in the upcoming NCAA outdoor championships.

This is her last dance, her final chance to shine at Purdue, where she is majoring in biomedical health sciences and plans to graduate in spring 2026. Grad school, as well as a hoped-for professional track career, looms.

“I want to make sure I go out with a bang,” says Elrod, smiling. “I don’t want to have any regrets. I’m going all in. It’s now or never.”

Written by Tom Dienhart of GoldandBlack.com