The 2025 USATF 1 Mile Road Championships — held as part of the Grand Blue Mile, presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield — delivered a historic night in Downtown Des Moines. In front of a vibrant crowd on World Record Way, Krissy Gear surged to victory and rewrote the record books, breaking the American record with a time of 4:23.98.

Gear’s electrifying finish eclipsed the previous mark of 4:27.97, set just two years earlier at the 2023 Grand Blue Mile by Nikki Hiltz. In a tactical race that saw Iowa natives Karissa Schweizer and Shelby Houlihan set a blistering early pace, Gear timed her move perfectly — sprinting past the lead duo in the final stretch to claim the national title and a spot on Team USATF for the 2025 World Athletics Road Running Championships.

Her performance not only secured the crown but also established her as the fourth-fastest woman ever in the road mile, capping off a memorable night that once again reinforced the Grand Blue Mile’s reputation as a record-breaking venue for America’s best milers.