Potentially couldn't the way the rounds and rewards are change in such a way it gives everyone time to get to the top, get some cash and potentially an item. It could be a variant of the following idea:
1st, 2nd, 3rd and (4th or last if less than 4 teams) have different loot tables they can roll from for the prize for completion. Once the first team completes a countdown happens to the end of the round. People that get up get a prize from whatever loot table they would fall under. Potentially could give people that don't make it a participation prize like a wooden fragment if anything at all.
Another option could just be making the rounds straight time attack, and prizes be based on the time it took to get to the top.
Finally it could just be a mixture of any of the above ideas but without item prizes, instead cash to avoid any issues the item prize incentive has.