(Des Moines) Despite a four-month postponement, Des Moines will reprise its role as the host of the USA Track & Field Road 1-Mile Championship when the nation’s best milers compete for a national title Aug. 29.
As part of the Drake Blue Oval Showcase presented by Mediacom, the USATF Road 1-Mile Championship will move from the streets of downtown Des Moines to the Drake campus. The title races will start and end on two iconic Drake landmarks with runners beginning their pursuit of a national championship on Drake’s Painted Street and finishing on Jim Duncan Track inside Drake Stadium.
“It’s an honor to bring the top American milers back to Central Iowa to race for a National Championship,” said Blake Boldon, the Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays. “We’re excited that this year’s USATF Road 1-Mile Championship course will showcase the Drake campus and its vibrant neighborhood to the competitors and our television audience.”
The men’s and women’s fields feature defending and returning champions and lineups eager to add ‘National Champion’ to their resume.
Defending men’s champion Tripp Hurt returns to Des Moines to defend his title after posting a personal best of 4:04 to outkick the field in last year’s race. He comes to Des Moines after recording a personal best of 3:36.83 in the 1,500m earlier this month and has run as fast at 3:56.02 in the mile on the track.
The women’s race features three former champions, including Heather Kampf, a four-time champion in the event, including wins in Des Moines in 2014, 2015 and 2016. She finished second in last year’s race in Des Moines and will be challenged by fellow former titleholders Emily Lipari and Katie Mackey.
Lipari claimed the title in 2018 in Des Moines, while Mackey was the 2017 winner. All three own road 1-mile personal bests of 4:26 or better.
The men’s race will include local talent Erik Sowinski returning to Des Moines. The former University of Iowa standout has established himself as one of the nation’s top 800-meter runners. Jake Edwards also returns after winning the mile on the track at the 2019 Drake Relays. Blue Jean Mile World Record holder Johnny Gregorek will also challenge the field unencumbered by the restrictions of denim.
The competition for the USA 1-Mile Road Championship is set for 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, with the men’s race followed by the women’s race. The two races will open competition at the Drake Blue Oval Showcase presented by Mediacom with two more hours of track & field action to follow inside Drake Stadium.
USATF 1-Mile Road Championship Women’s Lineup
Alex Wilson
Heather Kampf
Maddie Alm
Dani Aragon
Sinclaire Johnson
Emily Lipari
Karisa Nelson
Megan Mansy
Katie Mackey
Marisa Howard
Brette Jensen
USATF 1-Mile Road Championship Men’s Lineup
Abe Alvarado
Sam Prakel
Tripp Hurt
Erik Sowinski
Joe Klecker
Johnny Gregorek
Colby Alexander
Graham Crawford
Jake Edwards
Nick Harris
