DES MOINES, Iowa – The 58th running of the Drake Road Races again saw record participation numbers as the 5k, 10k, and half marathon all featured loaded fields of eager runners. Over 3,600 road racers hit the streets of Des Moines to slice through a windy and sunny April morning before crossing the finish line inside historic Drake Stadium to officially kick off the 2026 Drake Relays.
This year's winners continued a tradition started just 12 months ago by signing Champ the Bulldog. The winners of every competition of Drake Relays week from the prep races to World Athletics Continental Tour events will sign their name on Champ, marking their championship status for the year. One of today's winners, Luke Cerwin, is pictured above after earning his championship flag and inking Champ with his title-winning autograph.
"The continued growth and enthusiasm for the Drake Road Races has been incredible to see," said Drake Road Races 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 runners who travel here each year to be a part of something special."
Cerwin, a native of Naperville, Illinois, was the men's 5k champion in 15:47. Cresco, Iowa's Flannery Cerbin-Bohach took home top honors in the women's 5k race with a time of 17:42.
Waverly, Iowa resident Lexi Brown and Des Moines' own Blake Whalen, who won the 2025 Drake Relays men's 10k invite during last year's Distance Carnival, were winners on the 10k road race track this morning. Brown was the first women's finisher with a pace of 36:03 while Whalen outran the men's field in 31:31.
The men's half marathon was won by Jacob Vander Plaats of Sioux Center, Iowa. Vander Plaats maneuvered through the 13.1-mile course in 1:10:05 to earn his championship flag and the privilege to sign Champ the Bulldog. He was joined in the winner's circle by Pasca Cheruiyot of Ankeny. She won the women's half marathon in 1:19.27.
The 59th annual Drake Road Races are scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 17, 2027.
