DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom will award trophies to the three winning companies of the 2024 Relays Wellness Challenge on Wednesday, January 22, as part of Relays Night when the Drake University men's basketball team hosts Valparaiso at 6:30 p.m. 
 
Employees at ZLR Ignition, Delta Dental, and Drake University proved their dedication to health and wellness over the last year and will be presented with their Relays Wellness Challenge trophies as part of tomorrow's Relays Night in the Knapp Center.
 
Both ZLR Ignition and Drake University have won Relays Wellness Challenge titles for the last three seasons while Delta Dental makes an appearance among the champions.
 
The health and wellness initiative, organized in conjunction with the Drake Relays presented by Xtream and contested at the Drake Road Races and Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, saw the highest number of employers participating since its inception in 2019, with more than 58 companies and over 1,100 employees participating.
 
"Our entire staff takes immense pride in the increased success and popularity of the Relays Wellness Challenge," said Blake Boldon, Franklin P. Johnson Drake Relays Director. "Enrollment is underway for 2025 and our team is excited to continue our support of those chasing down their wellness goals. We are eager to see how these champions may defend their crowns, and what challengers contend to prioritize their health and wellness during Relays Week."
 
Congratulations to these three division winners and all companies for participating:
Small Business (5-50 Employees)                           ZLR Ignition
Medium Business (51-500 Employees)                  Delta Dental
Large Business (501+ Employees)                          Drake University
 
The Relays Wellness Challenge is an incentive driven wellness competition between Central Iowa based employers where points are awarded based on participation in the Drake Road Races, the Grand Blue Mile and through volunteering at Relays Week events. Rather than emphasizing a finishing time or place, total scores are calculated on a participant point system relative to the total number of employees in the company. Points can be earned by running, walking or volunteering at these two premier events and immediate family members are also eligible to participate.
 
Scoring details for the Relays Wellness Challenge is determined by the following criteria:

EVENT	POINTS
Drake Road Races Half Marathon	4
Drake Road Races 10k	3
Drake Road Races 5k	2
Volunteerism	1

 
"At ZLR Ignition, we believe in inspiring one another to live well, and the Drake Relays Wellness Challenge gives us the perfect platform to lead by example," said Xan McNelly, president and CEO. "Our team is proud to participate in this annual event highlighting the importance of health, community and collaboration, and we are honored to be recognized."
 
"As a health and wellness company, Delta Dental of Iowa recognizes the importance of staying healthy and active," said April Schmaltz, president and CEO of Delta Dental of Iowa. "Our participation in the Drake Relays Wellness Challenge is a great way to motivate and support our team members' wellness goals while also connecting with our local community.

"The Relays Wellness Challenge is a fun way to inspire a team goal while encouraging everyone to make daily activity a part of their healthy routine.  And we are especially proud to showcase our university and surrounding community," said Linda Feiden, the Wellness & Recognition Specialist at Drake University.
 
The 2024 Relays Wellness Challenge will continue at the 57th anniversary of the Drake Road Races on Saturday, April 19 and at the Grand Blue Mile on Tuesday, April 22. Enrollment is now open for the Challenge along with registering for the Drake Road Races. Registration for the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield will open on Tuesday, February 11. For more information on enrolling your organization for the free 2024 Relays Wellness Challenge, email drakeroadraces@drake.edu.
 
Register for the Drake Road Races here.
 
As part of the evening-long celebration of the Drake Relays, presented by Mediacom powered by Xtream, eleven area elementary schools will race at halftime. Inspired by the generations long tradition of the elementary shuttle relay held on the infield of Drake Relays, teams will compete in three divisions of a shuttle relay: boys, girls, and coed. Eleven schools will be represented from Des Moines Public Schools: Jefferson Elementary, King Elementary, McKinley Elementary, Monroe Elementary, Oak Park Elementary, Perkins Elementary, Phillips Elementary, River Woods Elementary, Samuelson Elementary, South Union Elementary and Willard Elementary. They will be joined by Delaware Elementary from Southeast Polk Community School District. 
 
For more information about elementary and middle school participation in the 2025 Drake Relays presented by Xtream, please go here. 
 
To complete the Relays night celebration, the first 250 fans in attendance will receive a free 2025 Drake Relays presented by Xtream poster. For the third consecutive year, a highlight of the evening will include a rousing rendition of the National Anthem by Junior thrower Adam Phillips of the Drake track and field team. A vocal performance major, Phillips was the Missouri Valley Conference runner-up in the weight throw in 2024 and an NCAA qualifier in the discus throw in 2023. Additionally, Drake Relays committee members and Drake Relays officials will be recognized during the game and there will be several special surprise announcements for those in attendance. 
 
"Relays Night at Drake basketball is always a fun, family-friendly celebration to launch Relays season," Franklin P. Johnson Director of the Drake Relays Blake Boldon said. "It provides a special time for our ticket holders and officials to celebrate the sport of track and field alongside staff and others. After congratulating our Relays Wellness Challenge winners in the first half, it will be a fun halftime cheering for elementary school students as they get a taste of Drake Relays style competition."
 
Drake Relays All-Session tickets will go on sale at noon on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at godrakebulldogs.com/tickets.