DES MOINES, Iowa -- Nearly 3,000 runners of all ages and abilities raced through the streets of Des Moines before finishing inside Drake Stadium to officially start the 2023 Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom with the 55th annual Drake Road Races Sunday morning.
 
Runners challenged each other and their personal bests in 5k, 10k, and half marathon races in brisk but calm and sunny conditions to become the first athletes of the week to cross the finish line on the Blue Oval.
 
"It was a fantastic event featuring athletes of all ages and abilities," Drake Road Races Director Tanner Nissen said. "There was a great team competition in the 10K that came down to the final stretch on the Blue Oval. The student cheering sections on 25th Street were amazing as we thank the excellent support of the Drake Road Races and Drake Relays."
 
The half marathon featured a sold-out field for the third-straight year, with nearly 700 entries navigating the 13.1-mile course. Leif Klarqvist of Roseville, Minn., won the men's half marathon with a time of 1:11.04, while Brooke Slayman of Solon, Iowa, won the women's race in 1:18.30.
 
Approximately 600 runners took to the 10k course, with Ames' Pasca Myers winning the women's race in 36:26. Noah Rasmussen of Lincoln, Neb., took top honors in the men's race at 29:33.
 
The 5k also featured nearly 600 entries, with Melanie Hamlit of Coralville, Iowa, besting the field by a half minute with a 19:18 finish. Des Moines' Anthony Kinley won the men's race in 16:14. 
 
For runners and fitness enthusiasts who want to ensure they don't miss out on a spot in the 2024 Drake Road Races, registration opens with a sale at the IMT Des Moines Marathon Expo Oct. 13-14, followed by a 2-Day Flash Sale Oct. 16-17. The 56th Drake Road Races are scheduled for Sunday, April 21, 2024.