Drake Road Races Celebrate Decades of Tradition with New Strategic Partnerships Chicago Running Company to Oversee Operations, Timing, and Photography Services for 2025 Races / October 10, 2024

The Drake Road Races, one of the Midwest's most iconic running events, returns in 2025 with fresh energy and exciting developments. With more than five decades of history, this cherished community event continues to draw thousands of runners to Des Moines, serving as the official starting line for Drake Relays Week. Last year's sold-out races produced the first six Drake Relays Champions, and excitement is already building for 2025.

In 2024, nearly 3,000 athletes of all ages and abilities crossed the finish line on the famous Blue Oval in Drake Stadium, solidifying the event's reputation as a premier destination for runners nationwide. This year, the Drake Road Races are proud to announce key partnerships that will further enhance the participant experience.

Chicago Running Company, renowned for its commitment to delivering outstanding running experiences, will manage race production, operations, premium apparel and medal design, as well as timing and photography services for the 2025 races. Their expertise provides a fresh approach to race logistics while maintaining institutional knowledge, ensuring an exceptional experience for every participant from start to finish.

"This new partnership with Chicago Running Company is the next logical step in the evolution of this historic event. Members of their team have been involved with the Drake Road Races since 2018, providing a strong foundation as we move forward with event enhancements, including our new website that launched this week," said Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. 

Ben Huftalin, Race Director for the Drake Road Races, added, "Chicago Running Company's attention to detail, innovation, and experience with large-scale events will take the Drake Road Races to new heights. From the racecourse to the unforgettable swag, participants can expect the highest quality in every aspect of the event."

New for 2025, RunSignup will serve as the official registration platform, streamlining the registration process for all participants. The platform simplifies signing up for the 5k, 10k, and half marathon, ensuring a smooth, accessible experience for runners of all levels.

Bob Bickel, founder of RunSignup and self-proclaimed "Chief Running Nerd," expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: "We are thrilled to collaborate with such a historic event as the Drake Road Races and Grand Blue Mile. These iconic events positively impact the lives of thousands of Iowans every year, and we look forward to supporting them for years to come."
 
The 2025 Drake Road Races will once again offer the popular 5k, 10k, and half marathon distances, starting just outside of Drake Stadium and finishing on the legendary Blue Oval. Whether a seasoned athlete or a first-time runner, participants will experience the camaraderie and competitive spirit that define the Drake Relays. 

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 19, 2025, and join us for another unforgettable race day. Registration opens for the 57th edition of the Drake Road Races with the lowest prices of the year on Monday, October 21, 2024. For two days only, registrants can save 50% off race day prices, with the half marathon, 10k and 5k priced at $55, $35 and $25, respectively. 
 
For more information, please visit drakeroadraces.org
 
About the Drake Relays
The Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom has served as "America's Athletic Classic" since its first running in 1910. The annual competition, hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, is recognized internationally as a destination for the world's premier track & field athletes across multiple professional and amateur divisions. In 2020, the Drake Relays was named a Silver Level event on the World Athletics Continental Tour, one of only two meets in the United States to earn Silver Level status. In addition to its signature stadium competition, the Drake Relays includes two marquee road running events open to the general public — the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Drake Road Races. For more information, visit drakerelays.org.

About Chicago Running Company
With over 60 years of combined experience, the team at Chicago Running Company (CRC) is dedicated to bringing events to life while meeting and exceeding client goals. From charity walks to national championship races, CRC expertly manages all aspects of event production, including operations, logistics, procurement, customer service, timing, photography, and marketing. Whether organizing Olympic Trials or fun runs, CRC delivers memorable experiences and successful outcomes for events of all sizes and distances.  For more information, visit: www.ChicagoRunningCompany.com

About RunSignup 
RunSignup, an employee owned company, is the leading US event technology company powering registration, ticketing, and peer-to-peer fundraising. Our comprehensive, free, end-to-end platform provides solutions from marketing tools to event day management because we believe everyone deserves powerful technology to improve their events. More than 28,000 events use RunSignup, TicketSignup, and GiveSignup to sign up over 8 million people annually. Since 2010, we have helped our customers raise more than $2 billion.

Ciattei Shines, McArthur Makes Personal History in USATF 1 Mile Road Race Championships / April 23, 2024

The Grand Blue Mile Presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield returned to Downtown Des Moines on April 23 for another installment of the men's & women's USATF 1 Mile Road Championships and the Grand Blue Mile recreational and competitive divisions.

The night commenced with the Iowa Kidstrong Fun Run followed by nearly 2,400 participants in the recreational division. Herky the Hawk from the University Iowa ran away with the title in the Mascot Madness Charity Challenge. The men's and women's competitive divisions were next and featured some strong contenders on both sides. Finally, the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships capped the night in impressive fashion.
 
USATF 1 Mile Road Championships
29 elite mile racers from around the nation made their way to Downtown Des Moines for their shot at a U.S. championship.

2024 Women's USATF 1 Mile Road Championship
In her road mile debut, Rachel McArthur pulled away late and sprinted across the finish line in 4:33.20. She edged runner-up Anna Camp Bennet by just one second to win the women's title.
 
2024 Men's USATF 1 Mile Road Championship
Vince Ciattei outran an ultra-competitive men's field to win his second USATF 1 Mile Road Championship in three years. The 2022 champion was one of three runners to break four minutes on Tuesday night, winning with a time 3:56.97. Ciattei's mark was less than a second off the current world record of 3:56.13 set by American Hobbs Kessler in October 2023.
 
Women's USATF 1 Mile Road Championship Top 10
1. Rachel McArthur, 4:33
2. Anna Camp Bennet, 4:34
3. Michaela DeGenero, 4:35
4. Alexina Teubel, 4:35
5. Angelina Ellis, 4:36
6. Anna Gibson, 4:37
7. Emma Grace Hurley, 4:37
8. Annie Frisbie, 4:37
9. Allie Wilson, 4:40
10. Melissa Tanaka, 4:42
 
Men's USATF 1 Mile Road Championship Top 10
1. Vince Ciattei, 3:57
2. John Reniewicki, 3:59
3. Alec Basten, 4:00
4. Abe Alvarado, 4:01
5. Macauley Franks, 4:01
6. Ben Veatch, 4:03
7. Shane Streich, 4:04
8. Jake Gillum, 4:04
9. Caleb Webb, 4:05
10. Nick Randazzo, 4:08
 
Drake Relays week continues tomorrow night back on the campus of Drake University with the return of the Team Shot Put Showcase in historic Drake Fieldhouse. Drake Stadium will also get its first action of the Relays with the start of the decathlon and heptathlon.

Grand Blue Mile and Wellmark Celebrate 15-Year Partnership / April 19, 2024

The Grand Blue Mile in Downtown Des Moines has become a popular springtime tradition among thousands of Iowans during the week of Drake Relays. That status can be, in large part, attributed to a solid 15-year partnership between the Grand Blue Mile and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
 
Hosted this year in conjunction with the 114th Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom, the Grand Blue Mile will continue to uphold that tradition with around 2,500 participants hitting the streets on Monday. The event serves as a prime example of Wellmark's primary principles of creating healthy, sustainable habits.
 
The corporate partnership between the Grand Blue Mile and Wellmark began in 2010 as an all-inclusive community event for all ages and abilities. While the popularity of the Grand Blue Mile has grown rapidly to include competitive and professional exhibitions, the foundation of promoting all aspects of well-being has remained the same.
 
"The Grand Blue Mile was born from a shared vision to help generations of Iowans move toward a future of better health," said Chris Verlengia, Wellmark's marketing activation and alliance manager and Grand Blue Mile co-race director. "As the event's founding sponsor, Wellmark is deeply committed to improving the health of the people and communities we serve. It's inspiring to see so many families, friends and neighbors embrace this as an annual tradition, sharing high-fives and hugs after crossing the finish line."
 
All proceeds from the Grand Blue Mile support student participation in the annual Drake Relays and benefit Iowa Kidstrong, a nonprofit organization that works with Des Moines metro-area schools to promote healthy and active lifestyles. Iowa Kidstrong's KidStriders must run a cumulative marathon over the school year and are invited to run the last quarter mile at the Grand Blue Mile. Over the past 15 years, Grand Blue Mile has successfully raised $100,000 for Iowa Kidstrong to expand its programming and curriculum for school-based wellness.
 
"While the Grand Blue Mile is a major part of Drake Relays festivities," Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays said. "It really belongs to the people of Des Moines and Iowa. Our communities have dedicated themselves, both physically and emotionally, to the Grand Blue Mile and everything Wellmark stands for to support their own health and the work done at Iowa Kidstrong. We're excited to see everyone downtown on Tuesday and celebrate another year of the Grand Blue Mile."
 
Registration for the 2024 Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark is open until April 23 at GrandBlueMile.com. The registration fee is $20 for youth and $25 for adults.

Elite Fields Set for USATF 1 Mile Road Race, 1500m, and Women's 800m / April 16, 2024

The USA Track & Field 1 Mile Road Championships, hosted as part of the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, will again bring some the nation's top milers to Downtown Des Moines and for the first time ever they will finish on "World Record Way" on Tuesday, April 23.
 
"The USATF 1 Mile Road Championships have become a staple of the Drake Relays," Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays Blake Boldon said. "This event has built a reputation among the discipline's most competitive runners as a premier destination, and this year's race will continue that tradition. The fact that so many of the 1 Mile road racers are sticking around to compete on the Blue Oval is an added bonus that demonstrates the significance of our events in an Olympic year."
 
The women's championship event is set for 7:15 p.m. followed by the men's championship race at 7:30 p.m. The recreational and competitive Grand Blue Mile races are set to start at 6:00 p.m. leading up to the eventual professional contests. Spots are still available for runners and walkers of all abilities for those races at GrandBlueMile.com.
 
Sam Prakel and Nikki Hiltz, last year's USATF 1 Mile Road Championship winners, were awarded the inaugural world records in the discipline after blazing through the downtown course. Those records were officially ratified in September 2023. That same month, the City of Des Moines announced an honorary name change to the stretch of 13th Street between Grand Avenue and Locust Street as "World Record Way". This year's contestants will aim to prove that moniker true and chase down another unprecedented one-mile road race mark.
 
The men's field in the USATF 1 Mile Road Championship features another excellent crop of contenders. Vince Ciattei leads a quintet of returners from last year's event. He finished fourth a year ago and won the road race in 2022. Ciattei is in top form and ran his personal best mile last month with a 3:50.56 mark. He will come to Des Moines with a chance for another world record as the current record time Is 3:56.13.
 
Two other returners will also be hunting the world record with previous bests under that mark. Kasey Knevelbaard, the fifth-place finish at the 2023 edition, has previously posted an indoor mile best of 3:55.92. John Reniewicki adds to the field with an excellent indoor mile best of his own at 3:51.72.
 
Other returners include outstanding road racer Nick Randazzo, Drake Relays veteran and American 1,000m record holder Shane Streich, and 2021 Road Mile place winner Abe Alvarado. Ben Veatch, a seven-time NCAA qualifier, and Alec Basten, another Relays veteran and U.S. Championship finalist, also headline the 1 Mile Road Race.
 
The men's field is rounded out by a handful of wildcard competitors in NAIA national champion Tim Thacker, Tanner Maier in his road mile debut, plus Macauley Franks, an NCAA Division II All-American. Other challengers include Jake Gillum, last year's sixth-place winner, two more first-time runners in Caleb Webb and Sair Salgado, and an All-American steeplechaser in Riley Osen. Mikey Brannigan, a Paralympic gold medalist, fills out the final spot in a unique position as the first paralympic ambulatory athlete to break four minutes in the mile.
 
The women's USATF 1 Mile Road Championship race will feature a diverse collection of veteran runners alongside racers making their road track debuts. Nearly half of the field will be competing in their first-ever road mile.
 
The more seasoned portion of the women's road race is highlighted by three-time USATF Road Mile champion Emily Lipari. All three of Lipari's road wins came in Des Moines between 2018-22. Four other returners join Lipari including 2022 fourth-place finisher and current USATF Indoor champion Allie Wilson, 2023 place winners Micaela DeGenero and Alex Teubel, and Rachel (Schneider) Smith, a past USATF 1 Mile champion in Des Moines. That field is completed by collegiate stars-turned pros Maria Seykora, Emi Trost, and Anna Camp Bennett.
 
Several of the men's road mile participants will also hit the Blue Oval and compete in the elite 1,500m run. Reniewicki, Ciattei, Knevelbard, Brannigan, Franks, and Randazzo will all double up at the Drake Relays. That group will be joined by a trio of athletes from the previously announced Indian Federation in Avinash Sable, Ajay Kumar Saroj, and P.R. Rahul.
 
The men's 1,500m field is filled by three other successful runners vying for a Relays title. Kenyan miler Justin Kipkoech will be running only his second race on American soil after posting a 3:40 mark last month. Ryan Adams and Brett Meyer, both former Drake Relays champions, will round out the field.
 
Like the men's section, the women's elite 1,500m will be comprised of several repeat runners taking part in the 1 Mile Road Championship earlier in the week. Teubel, Tanaka, McArthur, Bennett, Wilson, DeGenero, Hurley, and Lipari will make their way to Drake Stadium for their second event of the 2024 Relays festivities.
 
The women's 1,500m field will be supplemented by another handful of notable names including Berenice Fulchiron, a French national champion in the 1,500m and 3,000m. Parul Chaudhary of India, Vera Hoffman of Luxembourg, and Alma Cortes of Mexico, three more national title winners in their home countries, will also be a part of the elite race. Kate Current, a Canadian standout, and Stephanie Brown-Brokaw, a former NCAA national champion, add to the field.
 
Two late additions to the women's 1,500m represent the University of Oregon, one of the country's premier track and field programs. Sophomores Klaudia Kazimierska, originally from Poland, and Silan Ayyildiz, originally from Turkey, will be part of the elite field. Kazimierska finished seventh at the 2024 NCAA Championships in the mile while Ayyildiz, a three-time Turkey Senior National Champion, was named an All-American in 2024 and owns the Turkish national mile record.
 
The women's elite 800m race features another solid field of runners including the Drake Relays defending champion, Susan Ejore. The Kenyan took gold at last year's Relays and holds a personal record of 1:59.51.
 
Chrisann Gordon-Powell and Kaela Edwards also own personal bests under the two-minute mark. Edwards took bronze at the 2023 U.S. Indoor and Outdoor Championships and owns a personal best time of 1:59.68. Gordon-Powell, a member of the esteemed Jamaican track and field team, qualified for the 2022 World Championships in the 800 and 400 and was a PanAm Games finalist in the latter.
 
2022 Brazilian national champion and 2023 World Championship qualifier Jaqueline Beatriz Weber highlights the remainder of the field. She was fourth in the 800 at the 2023 South America Championships and PanAm Games.
 
Other 800m participants include a host of former collegiate medalists in Julia Nielsen, a four-time Missouri Valley Conference champion at Bradley, Gina McNamara, owner of three different national records in her native Malta, former Big Ten champion Aurora Rynda, Sun Belt Conference standout Gemma Finch, and 2023 Drake Relays bronze medalist Mallory Lindaman of Iowa.
 
The women's 800m run will kick off the slate of elite events on Saturday of the Drake Relays. That race is set to start at 2:05 p.m. with the men's elite 1,500m run to immediately follow. The women's 1,500m will get going just prior to 3:30 p.m.
 
Single session tickets are now available, and the Saturday session is heading toward a 57th-consecutive sellout. 2024 Drake Relays tickets are available here.

Drake Relays Announces 2024 Staff / February 21, 2024

The Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom has finalized its staff for the 2024 edition of America's Athletic Classic.
 
Blake Boldon has been the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays and Senior Associate Athletics Director at Drake since October of 2016.
 
Ben Huftalin and Preston Davis joined Boldon on the staff as Assistant Directors. Huftalin will oversee the Drake Road Races and Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield while Davis will have oversight of meet operations. 
 
A cross country and track student-athlete at Grand View University from 2017-22, Huftalin was a team captain before serving as a graduate assistant coach for his alma mater in 2022-23 while completing his master's degree. Prior to joining the Relays Staff, Ben was the Assistant Manager of the Des Moines Metro stores at Fitness Sports. 
 
On the track, Huftalin earned All-American status seven times and was a National Champion in the 4x800 at the NAIA level. As part of his connection to the Drake Relays presented by Xtream, Huftalin won the Competitive Men's Division at the 2023 Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark.
 
"From competing in the Drake Relays in college, and coaching athletes who competed there to running the Grand Blue Mile last year, the week of the Relays is always my favorite time of the year," Huftalin said. "I am so excited about the opportunity to create a special experience for all involved that brings to them the same excitement and joy it has always brought me."
 
Davis graduated in 2021 from Wayne State College with a bachelor's degree in sport management and exercise science. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in sport and recreational management.
 
Before arriving at Drake, Davis had been the graduate assistant track & field coach at Wayne State working with the sprinters, hurdlers, javelin, and combined event groups. He also spent a year at the University of South Dakota working in athletic facilities supporting dozens of home events including football and basketball games and home track and field meets.
 
"Drake has always felt like a home track to me," Davis said. "Being an Iowa kid, competing in the Relays as a collegiate athlete, and coaching athletes who also competed at the Relays. I'm grateful that Blake Boldon has given me the opportunity to make this meet as exciting for the athletes, coaches, and fans now, as it was for me growing up. I'm ready to take on the challenge and get to work!"
 
After assisting the 2023 Drake Relays as the hospitality intern, Maddi Morales is back in the Drake Relays Operation Manager role. Morales is a graduate student at Grand View University and a five-year letter winner on the Viking women's soccer team. She originally returned to Drake this past fall as an intern in the Drake Athletics facilities and game operations department while serving as the primary game operations contact for the Drake women's soccer team. 
 
Six interns will assist in various aspects of the 114th Drake Relays. 
 
Quinn Monson is a senior at Waukee High School and a member of the Waukee School-to-Work program. Monson is the 2023-24 Waukee High School Student Body President and team captain of the Warrior boys varsity tennis team. He is the hospitality intern and in addition to facilitating much of the catering, Quinn will be a primary point of contact for the Masters 800 Meters.
 
Lainey Witte will help with the promotion of America's Athletic Classic and drafting newsletters. She is a senior at Waukee Northwest High School and is also a part of the Waukee School-to-Work program with an emphasis on sports marketing, and is also a varsity soccer player.
 
Alexis Ponce is in the marketing and communications intern role for the 2024 Drake Relays. In her senior year at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, Ponce is a member of the Storm women's soccer team. Whether it's writing, graphics or website management, Ponce helps the Drake marketing and communications departments in multiple capacities.  
 
Also on the marketing side, Governor Lightfoot brings his graphic design and video skills to the Relays staff. As a sophomore at Iowa State University, Lightfoot is a marketing and management major. He took a leadership role in updating and creating the new website for the Grand Blue Mile. 
 
Jonah Larrison has been aiding the Drake Relays staff in special events and project management. Studying at Iowa State, Larrison brings extensive information technology experience to the group. He will be a primary point of contact for the elementary and middle school relays in addition to supporting other stadium events.
 
Connor Visnic is from Orange, Connecticut and is a current member of the Drake Cross Country and Track & Field teams. Visnic is currently pursuing a master's degree in business administration and represented the Bulldogs at the Drake Relays as a competitor in both 2022 and 2023. Connor will be assisting in all aspects of the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark. 
 
"As excitement continues to build for America's Athletic Classic, I'm thrilled to be part of this team. Each of them has handled key duties and contributed in a meaningful way as preparation ramps up," said Blake Boldon, Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. "I'm especially proud to say that this is the first time in the 114 year history of the Drake Relays that three native Iowans who competed in Drake Stadium as preps are now working full time on an event that means so much to our state." 

All Session tickets for the 114th Drake Relays April 24-27 are available for purchase at https://www.draketix.com/drakerelays.  

Registration opens for 15th Annual Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark / February 13, 2023

Registration for the 2024 Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® opened today, Tuesday, February 13, for only $10. The 15th annual Grand Blue Mile will be held in exactly ten weeks on Tuesday, April 23, in conjunction with the 114th Drake Relays presented by Xtream® powered by Mediacom®.
 
"The Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark has become a spring tradition, not just in Downtown Des Moines, but on the American road-racing circuit,"  Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays Blake Boldon said. "We are eager to welcome thousands of runners of all abilities, including Central Iowa families, runners from throughout the Midwest, and even aspiring World Record holders."
 
The Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® returns to "World Record Way" in downtown Des Moines, named last fall after the first-ever world records that were set at the event last year. Nikki Hiltz and Sam Prakel each earned the inaugural world records for the road mile with their performances at last year's event. As part of last week's unveiling of the 2024 schedule for the Drake Relays presented by Xtream, it was announced that the USATF 1 Mile Championship will return to Des Moines. For the eighth consecutive year, national champions will be crowned as part of the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark. 
 
"Since the very beginning, the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark has focused on encouraging individuals and families across Iowa to get moving and embrace simple, sustainable healthy habits," said Chris Verlengia, Wellmark's marketing activation & alliance manager and Grand Blue Mile co-race director. "The positive link between physical activity and overall well-being is proven, and Wellmark — through targeted efforts and strong community partnerships like this one — remains deeply committed to the communities we serve. We hope every participant who crosses the finish line keeps moving toward a future of better health."

Registration for the 2024 Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® is now open at https://www.grandbluemile.com/events/register/2024-grand-blue-mile. The $10 flash sale ends promptly at 11:59 p.m. on February 14, after which, regularly-priced youth registration is $15, and adults are $20. As part of Wellmark's commitment to improving the health of Iowans, all proceeds benefit Iowa Kidstrong youth fitness programs and support student participation in the annual Drake Relays.

2023 Relays Wellness Challenge Winners Announced / February 8, 2023