Top American Middle-Distance Runners on Display in Des Moines

Published by the Drake Relays on April 16, 2016

Grand Blue Mile race officials announced a prestigious field of invitational championship participants in addition to the expected 3,500 recreational and competitive runners for the seventh-annual event. On April 26, track and field Olympians and World Champions will compete for $30,000 in prize money in the men's and women's invitational championships.

The 2014 USA Men's 1 Mile Road Champion and 2012 Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano and two-time Olympian Nate Brannen will headline the men's invitational division. These two competitive athletes will be joined by handful of other elite athletes racing for the top prize of $5,000 and the potential of a $2,500 bonus for setting a new course record.

Returning for her sixth-consecutive Grand Blue Mile appearance is defending women's invitational champion Heather Kampf. The three-time USA 1 Mile Road Champion and crowd favorite will attempt to best her own course record of 4:32:62, set in 2014. She will be tested by 2012 Olympic semifinalist and 2014 World Indoor Championship bronze medalist Nicole Sifuentes.