The prestigious USATF 1 Mile Road Championships elevate the elite-level competition of the Grand Blue Mile and are expected to annually attract Olympians and world championship participants from across the country to vie for a national title and share of the $30,000 prize purse.
 
"Like the Drake Relays, the Grand Blue Mile has become a destination for the world's greatest athletes," said Blake Boldon, Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. "As we look to the next decade of this special event, we're proud to solidify our partnership with Wellmark to bring America's most accomplished middle-distance runners, alongside participants of all ages and abilities, to Downtown Des Moines.
 
"We are honored and privileged to welcome back the USATF 1 Mile Road Championships through 2023," said Chris Verlengia, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield's senior brand marketing manager and Grand Blue Mile co-race director. "By extending our longstanding partnership, USATF has cemented Grand Blue Mile's status as the definitive showcase for America's best milers, and we're humbled to have hosted more 1 Mile Road Championships than any other race in the nation."
 
Early entrants for the 2020 USATF 1 Mile Road Championships at Grand Blue Mile include:

• Heather Kampf – 2019 Grand Blue Mile Women's runner-up and three-time champion (2014-2016) 
• Emily Lipari – 2018 Grand Blue Mile Women's Champion and currently #2 in the world for the indoor 5000
• Tripp Hurt – Defending Grand Blue Mile Men's Champion with a mile PR of 3:56
• Riley Masters – 2018 Grand Blue Mile Men's Champion with a mile PR of 3:56 

In 2019, more than 30 track and field stars competed for the national title and share of the prize purse at the Grand Blue Mile. Tripp Hurt won the men's championship with a time of 4:04. The women's championship, and new women's course record, was captured by Nikki Hiltz in a time of 4:30.
 
Join the Relays Wellness Challenge
Back for a second year is the Relays Wellness Challenge — an employer-based team competition to promote a healthier Iowa. Points will be awarded based on participation in the Drake Road Races on April 19 and the Grand Blue Mile. Participating companies will compete in three categories based on their size: small (5 to 50 full-time employees), mid-size (51 to 500 full-time employees), and large (more than 500 full-time employees).
 
Points will be awarded based on participation and completion of events. Employees of enrolled companies will also receive one point for volunteering at either event or at the Relays Health & Fitness packet pick-up expo on April 18. Finishers will receive: two points for the mile, two points for the 5K, three points for the 10K and four points for the half-marathon. The winning team in each division will be publicly recognized and receive a traveling trophy to celebrate their achievement.
 
To date, in addition to Wellmark and Drake University, the total enrollment for the 2020 Relays Wellness Challenge exceeds the 2019 total by over 20 percent and many more employers are primed to enroll in the coming weeks.
 
To enroll your organization at no cost, email [email protected] or call 515-271-1957.
 
Set the Pace Challenge returns in 2020
Grand Blue Mile officials also announced a continued partnership with the Healthiest State Initiative (HSI) for the return of the Set the Pace Challenge. The challenge encourages Iowa communities to develop sustainable, healthy habits throughout 2020 — starting with participation in the Grand Blue Mile on April 21.
 
As part of the challenge, the community with the highest percentage of its residents participating in Grand Blue Mile — measured by the number of registrants for a given ZIP code against its total population — will be awarded $10,000 to use on a project that promotes safe and accessible places in which to be active, such as a park, playground or trail.
 
"We are proud to bring another year of the Set the Pace Challenge to communities across the state," said HSI Executive Director Jami Haberl. "Whether you live just down the road from the Grand Blue Mile race course or a two-hour drive from the metro, we've seen communities of all sizes rally together to accomplish one goal — creating a healthier hometown." 
 
The 2019 Set the Pace challenge winner, Odebolt, used their award to make critical improvements to their community pool that acts as a gathering place for residents. To watch the video and learn more about the project, click here.
 
Register today
Youth and adult registration for the Grand Blue Mile is now open, with all proceeds supporting school-based wellness programs in association with Iowa Kidstrong and the historic Drake Relays. For more information and to register, visit GrandBlueMile.com.
 
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About the Grand Blue Mile
The Grand Blue Mile is an annual one-mile fitness run/walk sponsored by Wellmark® Blue Cross® and Blue Shield®, in partnership with the Drake Relays, to engage individuals at all stages of fitness, encourage healthy habits and empower positive change. The annual wellness event includes recreational, competitive and invitational events featuring a field of elite male and female track and field athletes from around the world. Proceeds from the event benefit Iowa Kidstrong, Inc., an organization dedicated to promoting healthy, active lifestyles among youth. For more information about the Grand Blue Mile, visit www.grandbluemile.com.

About Wellmark
Wellmark, Inc. (Wellmark.com) does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. Wellmark and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, including Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., Wellmark Synergy Health, Inc. and Wellmark Value Health Plan, Inc., insure or pay health benefit claims for more than 2 million members in Iowa and South Dakota. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., and Wellmark Value Health Plan, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About USATF
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track and field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, some of the most-watched events of Olympic broadcasts, the country's No. 1 high school and junior high school participatory sport and more than 30 million adult runners in the United States. For more information on USATF, visit www.usatf.org.
 
About the Healthiest State Initiative
The Healthiest State Initiative is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization driven by the goal to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. By engaging worksites, communities, schools, retail food, organizations, institutions and individuals, we can inspire Iowans and their communities to improve their health and happiness, and ultimately achieve our goal. For more information, visit http://www.iowahealthieststate.com