SDG3
"Unity, Legacy, Glory": NCKU’s Mixed Relay Race Sparks Campus Fever with Record-Breaking 2,000 Runners across 103 Teams
Written by NCKU Physical Education Office and News Center. Image credit to NCKU News Center.
Following its critically acclaimed debut last year, National Cheng Kung University’s（NCKU） "Mixed Relay Race" has returned with unprecedented momentum, setting a new record for event scale. This year's competition has drawn a massive turnout, with 103 teams and over 2,000 faculty members and students hitting the track. The five-day preliminary rounds kicked off on May 18 at the NCKU Kuang-Fu Campus sports field, where teams will battle for a spot in the top 16 to advance to the finals on June 8. Emphasizing "cross-disciplinary collaboration, empathy, and team spirit," the race has become a signature campus event highly valued by NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen. It stands not only as a flagship competition eagerly anticipated by the university community but also as a powerful tradition fostering campus solidarity.
Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang attended the opening day of the preliminaries on May 18 to cheer on the athletes and officially signal the start of the race by firing the starter's pistol. In his address, Vice President Chang highlighted the intensified competition this year, noting that the number of participating teams has surpassed the century mark. While encouraging students to strive for glory, he reminded them to cherish the process and the experience of the race itself. Placing heavy emphasis on athlete welfare, the Vice President issued a special reminder for "safety first," urging participants not to push themselves beyond their limits if they feel unwell. Vice President Chang further inspired the competitors to showcase their full potential and foster mutual support, achieving greatness through the power of collaboration—a hallmark of the "NCKU Spirit." He concluded his remarks by extending his gratitude to the dedicated staff working behind the scenes to make this large-scale event possible.
According to the NCKU Office of Academic Affairs, the Mixed Relay Race serves as a tangible manifestation of the three key attributes defining the NCKU community: teamwork, empathy, and resilience. With "cross-disciplinary connection" remaining the central theme, and "unity, legacy, and glory" at its core, the event challenges participating teams to push their limits through speed and seamless coordination. It aims to foster a deep sense of solidarity through collaboration while passing down the enduring NCKU spirit. Furthermore, the Office of Academic Affairs expressed hope that the competition will inspire faculty and students to build regular fitness habits and improve their physical well-being. This objective directly aligns with President Meng-Ru Shen’s advocacy that "physical health is the ultimate foundation for sustainability.
To foster diverse connections across academic backgrounds, the NCKU Mixed Relay Race regulations strictly require that every team be co-ed and comprise members from at least three different colleges. This unique structure aims to spread the spirit of the relay race across the entire campus while cultivating students' capacity for collaboration within interdisciplinary teams. Reflecting on the deeper meaning of the event, President Meng-Ru Shen once shared his core value in college education: "My hope is that when students run on this campus, it isn't just to rush to classes or exams, but that through sports, they can find their partners for the future.
Under the strong leadership and support of President Meng-Ru Shen, the Mixed Relay Race has seen exponential growth since its inception. The inaugural event in March 2025 generated significant buzz with 28 participating teams. By October of the same year, during NCKU’s 94th anniversary celebrations, the event expanded rapidly to 80 teams. Now in its third iteration, the tournament has reached a new pinnacle with 103 teams and over 2,000 faculty members and students registered, underscoring the overwhelming popularity and support the race enjoys across the campus community.Adding to the excitement of this year's competition, the defending champions from the previous edition—teams "SmittyWerbenjagermanjensen"(史密提威威傑曼傑森) and "All Talk No Action, 20K Cash" (光操不練 兩萬折現) have joined the race again, looking forward to defending their titles.
The energy on the opening day of the preliminaries was electric, with 16 teams leading the charge in a display of youthful passion and competitive drive. Runners spent the pre-race hours warming up and cheering each other on before the sound of the starter's pistol. Because every team is intentionally formed across different colleges, the event produced the heartwarming dynamic of "rivals on the track, friends off the field," highlighting a deep sense of camaraderie that transcends the competition itself.
Looking ahead, the NCKU Physical Education Office noted the immense popularity of the Mixed Relay Race and announced plans to introduce more diverse tournament formats in the future to attract broader participation and achieve the ultimate goal of a true "sports campus."The preliminary races will run through May 22, with a university vice president attending each day to fire the starting gun and encourage the athletes. The top 16 advancing teams will face off in the grand finals on June 8. The entire NCKU community is warmly invited to come out, cheer on the runners, and experience firsthand the campus's energy and solidarity.
Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2026-05-19
Following its critically acclaimed debut last year, National Cheng Kung University’s（NCKU） "Mixed Relay Race" has returned with unprecedented momentum, setting a new record for event scale. This year's competition has drawn a massive turnout, with 103 teams and over 2,000 faculty members and students hitting the track. The five-day preliminary rounds kicked off on May 18 at the NCKU Kuang-Fu Campus sports field, where teams will battle for a spot in the top 16 to advance to the finals on June 8. Emphasizing "cross-disciplinary collaboration, empathy, and team spirit," the race has become a signature campus event highly valued by NCKU President Meng-Ru Shen. It stands not only as a flagship competition eagerly anticipated by the university community but also as a powerful tradition fostering campus solidarity.
Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang attended the opening day of the preliminaries on May 18 to cheer on the athletes and officially signal the start of the race by firing the starter's pistol. In his address, Vice President Chang highlighted the intensified competition this year, noting that the number of participating teams has surpassed the century mark. While encouraging students to strive for glory, he reminded them to cherish the process and the experience of the race itself. Placing heavy emphasis on athlete welfare, the Vice President issued a special reminder for "safety first," urging participants not to push themselves beyond their limits if they feel unwell. Vice President Chang further inspired the competitors to showcase their full potential and foster mutual support, achieving greatness through the power of collaboration—a hallmark of the "NCKU Spirit." He concluded his remarks by extending his gratitude to the dedicated staff working behind the scenes to make this large-scale event possible.
According to the NCKU Office of Academic Affairs, the Mixed Relay Race serves as a tangible manifestation of the three key attributes defining the NCKU community: teamwork, empathy, and resilience. With "cross-disciplinary connection" remaining the central theme, and "unity, legacy, and glory" at its core, the event challenges participating teams to push their limits through speed and seamless coordination. It aims to foster a deep sense of solidarity through collaboration while passing down the enduring NCKU spirit. Furthermore, the Office of Academic Affairs expressed hope that the competition will inspire faculty and students to build regular fitness habits and improve their physical well-being. This objective directly aligns with President Meng-Ru Shen’s advocacy that "physical health is the ultimate foundation for sustainability.
To foster diverse connections across academic backgrounds, the NCKU Mixed Relay Race regulations strictly require that every team be co-ed and comprise members from at least three different colleges. This unique structure aims to spread the spirit of the relay race across the entire campus while cultivating students' capacity for collaboration within interdisciplinary teams. Reflecting on the deeper meaning of the event, President Meng-Ru Shen once shared his core value in college education: "My hope is that when students run on this campus, it isn't just to rush to classes or exams, but that through sports, they can find their partners for the future.
Under the strong leadership and support of President Meng-Ru Shen, the Mixed Relay Race has seen exponential growth since its inception. The inaugural event in March 2025 generated significant buzz with 28 participating teams. By October of the same year, during NCKU’s 94th anniversary celebrations, the event expanded rapidly to 80 teams. Now in its third iteration, the tournament has reached a new pinnacle with 103 teams and over 2,000 faculty members and students registered, underscoring the overwhelming popularity and support the race enjoys across the campus community.Adding to the excitement of this year's competition, the defending champions from the previous edition—teams "SmittyWerbenjagermanjensen"(史密提威威傑曼傑森) and "All Talk No Action, 20K Cash" (光操不練 兩萬折現) have joined the race again, looking forward to defending their titles.
The energy on the opening day of the preliminaries was electric, with 16 teams leading the charge in a display of youthful passion and competitive drive. Runners spent the pre-race hours warming up and cheering each other on before the sound of the starter's pistol. Because every team is intentionally formed across different colleges, the event produced the heartwarming dynamic of "rivals on the track, friends off the field," highlighting a deep sense of camaraderie that transcends the competition itself.
Looking ahead, the NCKU Physical Education Office noted the immense popularity of the Mixed Relay Race and announced plans to introduce more diverse tournament formats in the future to attract broader participation and achieve the ultimate goal of a true "sports campus."The preliminary races will run through May 22, with a university vice president attending each day to fire the starting gun and encourage the athletes. The top 16 advancing teams will face off in the grand finals on June 8. The entire NCKU community is warmly invited to come out, cheer on the runners, and experience firsthand the campus's energy and solidarity.
Provider: NCKU News Center
Date: 2026-05-19
NCKU’s Mixed Relay Race Sparks Campus Fever with Record-Breaking 2,000 Runners across 103 Teams
Vice President Shyy-Woei Chang reminded participants to enjoy the race and always put safety first.
The Mixed Relay Race serves as a tangible manifestation of the three key attributes defining the NCKU community: teamwork, empathy, and resilience.
The atmosphere on the first day of the preliminaries was energetic and filled with youthful passion, as participants actively warmed up before the race.
Participants sprinted with full speed and determination to achieve the best possible results.
Participants sprinted with full speed and determination to achieve the best possible results.
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