2026 KO’KO’ ROAD RACES SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEKEND

By Jay Leon Guerrero

The 2026 Guam Ko’ko’ Half Marathon and Ekiden Relay will take place this weekend at Ypao Beach Park in Tumon. A kickoff press conference was held at Tumon Sands Plaza to announce festivities scheduled for April 11th and 12th. Guam Visitors Bureau (GVB) President Regine Biscoe-Lee thanked the sponsors, organizers, volunteers, and supporters of the annual event.

“We are thrilled to announce a record 700 participants signed up for the race this weekend,” said Biscoe-Lee. “We are pleased to welcome visitors from Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines. Preliminary estimates suggest the Ko’ko’ event is projected to generate $1.35 million in direct visitor spending from these arrivals.”

Kraig Camacho, GVB Senior Destination Management Specialist for sports and events, noted that the Ekiden Relay will feature over 100 teams, doubling last year’s participation. The field includes several celebrities, influencers, Olympians, and elite relay teams from various universities and clubs.

The event schedule is as follows:

  – Saturday Morning: Ko’ko’ Kids Race
  – Sunday: Half Marathon and Ekiden Relay (Road closures in Tumon begin at 2:00 AM)

Defending champions Ryuhei Nogi and Sachi Uozomi of Japan have returned to Guam to protect their titles. Last year, Nogi won the men’s division with a time of 1:17:42, while Uozomi took the women’s division at 1:30:42.

Logistics for Participants:

  – Packet Pickup: Available Friday and Saturday on the first floor of Tumon Sands Plaza (near center court) for race bibs, t-shirts, and merchandise.
  – Parking: Available at JFK High School on race day.
  – Road Closures: Sunday morning closures will affect the southbound lane of Pale San Vitores Road, from the GVB/Proa intersection to Archbishop Flores Circle.