Des Moines, IA Tuesday, April 21
USATF Championship medals and USATF Running Circuit points will be awarded to the Top 10 men’s and women’s finishers. An award ceremony will follow the conclusion of both races.
Total Prize Purse - $50,000* (Men & Women)
In addition to the prize structure, a $7,500 bonus is available for the winning performance in each race that can be ratified as a new World Record for the 1 Mile Road event. Currently, the World Records stand at 3:51.3 for men and 4:20.98 for women.
A $5,000 bonus is available for the winning performance in each race that can be ratified as a new American Record for the 1 Mile Road event. Currently, the American Records are 3:51.9 for men and 4:28.0 for women.
As a reminder, the inaugural World Records in this discipline were established at our event in 2023. The course is record-eligible, flat, and favorable for fast performances.
** World Record bonus is inclusive of the American Record bonus, rather than additive. Record bonuses are only available to the winner. For clarity, a winner in an American Record performance would earn a total of $15,000, and a winner in a World Record performance would earn a total of $17,500.
In addition to hosting the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships, the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield also features one of the nation’s largest timed road mile races. Held on the same record-eligible course just prior to the professional championships, this community event welcomes thousands of participants of all ages and abilities. The community race helps celebrate health, fitness, and the sport of running while adding to the electric atmosphere leading into the championship races.
The Grand Blue Mile, presented by Wellmark, is part of a weeklong celebration with the Drake Relays — America’s Athletic Classic. With more than a century of legacy and history, the Drake Relays represent one of the most storied traditions in track & field, making the Grand Blue Mile a unique showcase that connects community participation with world-class competition.
For more information, visit grandbluemile.com or drakerelays.org.