DES MOINES, Iowa (March 31, 2022) – Grand Blue Mile officials from Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom and Wellmark Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® announced the USA Track & Field (USATF) 1 Mile Road Championships presented by Toyota® will be returning in 2022 as part of the annual Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark on April 26.

The addition of the prestigious USATF 1 Mile Road Championships elevates the elite-level competition of the Grand Blue Mile and is expected to attract Olympians and world championship participants from across the country to vie for a national title and share of the $25,000 prize purse. The Grand Blue Mile also hosted the 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 USATF 1 Mile Road Championships. Des Moines is the host city for the championships through 2023.
 
"Hosting these championships has become a special part of the Grand Blue Mile tradition and a unique opportunity to share the road with some truly inspiring athletes — whether that's running to set a new personal best time or simply enjoying a walk with your family, said Chris Verlengia, Wellmark's marketing activation and alliance lead and Grand Blue Mile co-race director. "With so much to see and do, there's something for everyone at the Grand Blue Mile, and we're grateful USATF continues to support our vision for the event."
 
Early entrants for 2022 USATF 1 Mile Road Championships at Grand Blue Mile include:

• Clayton Murphy, Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2017 GBM Champion
• Shane Streich, American Indoor Record Holder 1000 meters
• Emily Lipari, 2018 GBM Champion and 2020 USATF 1 Mile Champion
• Katie Follett, 2017 GBM Champion

"The USATF 1 Mile Road Championships in partnership with the Grand Blue Mile are truly a premier event," said Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. "I am proud that our team has brought such an elite championship to Des Moines for the sixth consecutive year ─ eight total. Central Iowa is the perfect host for amazing athletes, families, friends and milers."
 
The 2021 event took place on April 20 during the Drake Relays at Drake University. Eric Avila won the men's championship with a time of 3:58.96, the second-fastest time in the event's history. The women's championship was captured by Rachel Schneider with a time of 4:30.26.
 
Still Time to Register
Join the fun and register for the 2022 Grand Blue Mile at grandbluemile.com, then participate in the setting that suits you best — either in-person or virtually. Registration is $15 for youth and $20 for adults until 11:59 PM March 31, 2022. Sign up today to save on your race entr! 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.
 

 
About the Grand Blue Mile
Grand Blue Mile, a Drake Relays event, is an annual one-mile fitness run/walk presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield to engage individuals at all stages of fitness, encourage healthy habits and celebrate personal achievement. The annual wellness event, established in 2010, 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, visit grandbluemile.com.

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 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 Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
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., and Wellmark Value Health Plan, Inc., and Wellmark Advantage 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., Wellmark Value Health Plan, Inc., and Wellmark Advantage Health Plan, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.