Grand Blue Mile & Drake Relays to again host USATF 1 Mile Championships
16th edition to serve as Team USA selection event for first time; $50,000 national championship prize purse
From Drake Relays
DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom will host the 2025 USATF 1 Mile Championships as a highlight of the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield on Tuesday evening, April 22, Drake Athletics has announced.
The national championships, to be run as part of the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark for the ninth consecutive year, will serve as a selection event for Team USA for the first time. The top two men and women finishers will earn their spots on Team USA at the 2025 World Road Running Championships: Mile, set for San Diego, CA, on September 26.
"The Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark has become a health and wellness tradition in Downtown Des Moines, drawing thousands of Central Iowans each year to enjoy their Mile with families and friends," said Blake Boldon, Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. "This year the excitement will reach new heights as America's best middle distance runners vie for the honor of representing Team USA at a global championship."
The field of professional athletes will be competing for a first place prize of $10,000 for each national champion, the largest guaranteed winning prize for a road Mile in the United States. The championships-only purse totals at least $50,000, with American Record and World Record bonuses also available for the winners of the men and women's races.
To qualify with a guaranteed entry into the USATF 1 Mile Championships, athletes must have run the following times between April 23, 2024 and March 22, 2025:
Registration will open at just $10 for the Recreational and Competitive races on Tuesday, February 11 at GrandBlueMile.com.
The Grand Blue Mile is also a BBTM Featured Event, showcasing America's best Mile races throughout the year.
More information on the Grand Blue Mile and the USATF Championships, including elite athlete announcements will be available in the days ahead.
