The Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield returns to Grand Avenue on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 and again hosts the national road Mile championships.
The event offers a $25,000 prize purse, going 10-deep ($5000 national champion, $2500 national runner-up, $1500, $1250, $1000, $500, $300, $200, $150 and $100) plus $2500 for an event record (see below).
The Grand Blue Mile is the Midwest’s premier community street run for all ages and abilities, and with 7 heats and 3,000-plus finishers, the event is the third largest timed, competitive U.S. road Mile. Held annually in Des Moines, Iowa, since 2010, the Grand Blue Mile has hosted more than 40,000 participants from 38 states, 7 countries and 5 continents. Among those participants: Olympic medalists, American record holders, national champions and many of the world’s finest track & field athletes.
The Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Drake Relays partnership event has also been recognized as one of America’s top Mile races by Shape Magazine and featured across track & field media. The long U-shaped road course, run in downtown Des Moines, is USATF-certified.
The Grand Blue Mile is also a BBTM Featured Event, showcasing America's best Mile races throughout the year.
For the seventh straight year, the Grand Blue Mile will host the prestigious USA 1 Mile Road Championships after previously hosting the national championships in 2013-14.
EVENT / COURSE RECORDS
3:59.96 Clayton Murphy (OH), 2017
4:28.0 Nikki Hiltz (AZ), 2023, also USA Championship record
2023 USA Road Champions
Sam Prakel (WA), 4:02 (4:01.21), 2nd road Mile USA title, first official road Mile WR
Nikki Hiltz (AZ), 4:28 (4:27.97), 2nd road Mile USA title, first official road Mile WR
Elite athlete contact, Blake Boldon, Drake Relays Director: blake.boldon@drake.edu
The inaugural records were set at the 2023 Grand Blue Mile in Des Moines, Iowa
From World Athletics
The winning times from this year’s USA Road Mile Championships – 4:27.97 for Nikki Hiltz and 4:01.21 for Sam Prakel – have been ratified as the inaugural world records for the road Mile.
The...
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From USATF
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From Grand Blue Mile / Wellmark
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From Grand Blue Mile
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From USATF
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This year, our ability to successfully execute the Drake Relays, the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships again and also the Virtual Grand Blue Mile with a standing LOC ready to host is deeply embedded in our culture.
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Complete Your Race - Your Pace - Your Place between April 17 and 25, 2021; an entry fee of just $10 includes bib and GBM event shirt
From Grand Blue Mile
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From Grand Blue Mile
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Contributed by Scott Bush, USATF, and Drake Athletic Communications
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From Drake Relays
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From Drake Relays
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Courtesy: Drake Athletics
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