IWAKUNI CITY, Japan -- U.S. Marines and sailors participated in the Iwakuni Friendship Relay Marathon with local Japanese residents in Iwakuni City, Japan, Dec. 2, 2018.
The event was a collaboration between organizations from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni and Iwakuni City as a way to form new friendships through healthy exercise and friendly competition.
More than 200 teams of 5-15 runners ran a 1.5km relay course around Go! Go! Field at Atago Hills Sports Complex for four hours. The top three teams with the most laps were awarded prizes.
Yoshihiko Fukuda, the mayor of Iwakuni City, presented a trophy, fresh lotus roots, energy drinks, assorted candy, complementary towels and water bottles to the winning teams.
“I found this event to be really enjoyable,” said U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Joseph Gregory, the sergeant major of MCAS Iwakuni. “Anytime we can get together with the city of Iwakuni is a great benefit to the youth of both communities and the relationship between the two in the long run.”
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