(Des Moines, IA) – The 58th running of the Drake Road Races drew record participation once again, as the 5K, 10K, and half marathon featured deep, competitive fields. More than 3,600 runners took to the streets of Des Moines on a windy but sunny April morning, finishing inside historic Drake Stadium to officially kick off the 2026 Drake Relays.
A tradition introduced just last year continued, with each race winner signing “Champ the Bulldog.” Throughout Drake Relays week, champions from every event—from high school competitions to World Athletics Continental Tour meets—will leave their mark on Champ as a symbol of their victory. Among those honored was Luke Cerwin, who celebrated his win by raising the championship flag and adding his autograph.
“The continued growth and enthusiasm for the Drake Road Races has been incredible to see,” said race director Ben Huftalin. “With strong participation and an amazing crowd, today once again showed how much this event means to the Des Moines community and to runners who travel here each year to be part of something special.”
Cerwin, a native of Naperville, Illinois, captured the men’s 5K title in 15:47. In the women’s race, Flannery Cerbin-Bohach of Cresco, Iowa, claimed top honors with a time of 17:42.
In the 10K, Waverly’s Lexi Brown led the women’s field, finishing in 36:03. Des Moines native Blake Whalen, last year’s Drake Relays 10K invitational champion, won the men’s race in 31:31.
Jacob Vander Plaats of Sioux Center, Iowa, took the men’s half marathon title, completing the 13.1-mile course in 1:10:05. Pasca Cheruiyot of Ankeny secured the women’s half marathon victory with a time of 1:19:27, joining the day’s champions in earning the right to sign Champ the Bulldog.
