DES MOINES, Iowa – The 57th running of the Drake Road Races saw unprecedented demand as the 5k, 10k, and half marathon all featured sold out fields of runners. Over 3,400 participants off all ages and abilities maneuvered their way through the streets of Des Moines on a picturesque April morning before finishing inside Drake Stadium to officially start the 2025 Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom.
 
This year's champions also became the first to celebrate a new tradition, the signing of Champ the Bulldog. The winners of all 158 events at the 2025 Drake Relays from the prep races to World Athletics Continental Tour contests will get the ink their signature on Champ, cementing their title-winning status for the year. Two of today's champions, Jessica McKee and Kayci Martensen, are pictured above after collecting their champion flags and marking Champ with their autographs.
 
"It was another tremendous day for the Drake Road Races," said Drake Road Races Director Ben Huftalin. "Athletes from all over the country made the most of their chance to finish on the iconic Blue Oval and the energy throughout the course was evident. We're especially thrilled for today's first-place finishers as they were the first to participate in the newest Relays tradition of singing Champ the Bulldog, and are excited to see hundreds more do the same later this week as Drake Relays champions."
 
Martensen, a native of Benton, Wis., was the women's 5k champion in 17:27. Ankeny's Ahren Davis won the men's 5k in a time of 16:00.
 
McKee, a Johnston resident, returned to the Drake Road Races to defend her women's 10k title from a year ago. She did just that with a winning pace of 35:52, besting her triumphant 2024 time by nearly a second. Tyler Boyle of Lincoln, Neb. took top honors in the men's 10k at 31:43.
 
The men's half marathon was won by Seth Kilborn of Waukee. Kilborn navigated the 13.1-mile course in 1:11.04 to earn his champion flag and the right to sign Champ the Bulldog. He was joined in the winner's circle by Danna Herrick of Norwalk. She won the women's half marathon in 1:20.31.
 
The 58th annual Drake Road Races are scheduled for Sunday, Apr. 19, 2026.