by Brett Larner Making their U.S. debut at the invitation of team sponsor Nike, 2012 Hakone Ekiden course record setters Toyo University won the U.S.' premier road relay, Oregon's Hood to Coast Relay , on Aug. 24-25. Running a team of mostly first and second-year students, Toyo had little trouble dispatching 2011 Hood to Coast winner Knoxville Track Club and 2011 runner-up Bowerman AC , covering the roughy 320 km, 36 stage course in 17:14:37 to Bowerman AC's 17:56:00. Defending champ Knoxville TC was 3rd in 18:14:17. 2012 Hood to Coast Relay 320 km, 36 stages Oregon, 8/24-25/12 click here for complete results 1. Toyo University - 17:14:37 2. Bowerman AC - 17:56:00 3. Knoxville Track Club - 18:14:17 4. Icebreaker Lund - 18:35:45 5. Univ. of Portland Alumni - 19:18:40 6. Google1 - 19:24:08 7. GE Meatballs - 19:27:14 8. Tarahumara - 19:41:42 9. Black Flag - 19:47:07 10. Willamette Dental - 19:47:25 (c) 2012 Brett Larner all rights reserved