DES MOINES, Iowa — Grand Blue Mile race officials announced a prestigious field of invitational championship participants in addition to the expected 3,500 recreational and competitive runners for the seventh-annual event. On April 26, track and field Olympians and World Champions will compete for $30,000 in prize money in the men's and women's invitational championships.
The 2014 USA Men's 1 Mile Road Champion and 2012 Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano and two-time Olympian Nate Brannen will headline the men's invitational division. These two competitive athletes will be joined by handful of other elite athletes racing for the top prize of $5,000 and the potential of a $2,500 bonus for setting a new course record.