COPENHAGEN, Denmark – When the starting gun sounds for the World Athletics Road Running Championships mile in Copenhagen this Saturday, four American athletes will toe the line with a connection that runs through downtown Des Moines.
Yared Nuguse, Vince Ciattei, Addy Wiley and Gracie Hyde all earned their spots on Team USA at the 2026 USATF 1 Mile Road Championships, hosted as part of the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in April.
The Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark served as the sole U.S. selection event for the World Athletics Road Running Championships, with the top two finishers in each men's and women's championship race earning automatic spots on Team USA. Nuguse won the men's championship in a course-record 3:54.06, followed by Ciattei in 3:54.62. Wiley captured the women's title in 4:25.42, with Hyde finishing second in 4:25.64.
Now, nearly five months later, the four athletes will reunite on the international stage as the United States competes for the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships mile titles in Copenhagen.
For Nuguse, his experience in Des Moines left a lasting impression beyond winning the USATF title. During the newest episode of the Drake Relays Podcast, Nuguse reflected on the atmosphere surrounding the Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark. "There were so many people. It was such a hype race…the crowd was electric. It was just a really fun atmosphere, and I think that was what made that race so good."
Nuguse enters the World Championships as the most recent Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark men's champion and the owner of the U.S. All-Comers road mile record, established with his 3:54.06 performance on the streets of downtown Des Moines. His victory also marked his first USATF road mile title.
The four athletes' journey from Des Moines to Copenhagen is also the focus of the newest episode of the Drake Relays Podcast, which features an interview with Nuguse. Hosted by Mark Freund, the episode offers a closer look at Nuguse's career, his experience racing in Des Moines and his return to the international stage for the World Athletics Road Running Championships.
The episode is available now through the Drake Relays Podcast and the Drake Sports Media Podcast Network.
Listen to the newest episode of the Drake Relays Podcast
The World Athletics Road Running Championships take place Sept. 19-20 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The elite women's mile begins at 10:10 a.m. local time Saturday, followed by the elite men's mile at 10:30 a.m. local time.
For fans watching from Iowa, that means an early-morning start: 3:10 a.m. Central Time for the women's race and 3:30 a.m. Central Time for the men's race. The World Athletics Road Running Championships will feature world championship races in the mile, 5K and half marathon, with athletes from 85 federations represented in the 2026 championships.
About the Drake Relays
The Drake Relays, America's Athletic Classic, is one of the world's premier track and field events, bringing elite athletes, collegiate competitors, high school athletes and fans together each spring at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. The Grand Blue Mile presented by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is part of the Drake Relays' weeklong celebration and brings thousands of runners to downtown Des Moines each year.
