KGRR Adds Bonuses to Hakone Ekiden, Kanto Regionals, Kanto Women's Ekiden

The Kanto Regional University Track and Field Association (KGRR) has announced that it has added scholarship bonuses to the Hakone Ekiden, Kanto Region University Track and Field Championships and Kanto Region University Women's Ekiden. Scholarship bonuses are already awarded at the Twilight Games, Kanto Region University Newcomers and Kanto Region 10000 m Time Trials track meets, but at a board meeting in March the KGRR made the decision to add the additional events to the list for the 2025-2026 academic year which began in April.

At the May 8-11 Kanto Regionals meet, men's and women's D1 top 3 placers earned ¥30,000, ¥20,000 and ¥10,000 scholarships [~$210, $140 and $70 USD]. D2 athletes earned ¥20,000, ¥10,000 and ¥5000 [~$140, $70 and $35]. Men's and women's MVP earned ¥50,000 [~$350] in the D1 division and ¥30,000 in D2 [~$210]. The overall winning teams earned ¥100,000 [~$700] in D1 and ¥70,000 [~$500] in D2.

At the Hakone and Kanto Women's ekidens, winning teams will earn ¥100,000, 2nd place ¥50,000 and 3rd place ¥30,000, with stage winners earning ¥30,000. At the Hakone Ekiden additional scholarship bonuses will be paid for new stage records and MVP award winers.

KGRR executive director Hiroyoshi Higuma commented, "In today's world it's a given that races around the world pay prize money. It's only natural to reward athletes' hard work. Although our bonus system remains within the jurisdiction of amateurism, we hope that it will encourage athletes to be even more competitive, and help those students who are struggling financially."

source article:

https://www.rikujyokyogi.co.jp/archives/170730

translated by Brett Larner

photo © 2025 Brett Larner, all rights reserved