Trophy Up For Grabs at This Year's 'Hop'

A trophy is up for grabs, and Hillsborough students have a chance to make a difference in where it goes.

Township youths will be able to vie to win this brand new honor for their school by running in the 12th annual Hillsborough Hop 5K. The event will take place on June 2, beginning at 8 a.m. at the Y.

“We are always looking for ways to improve the health and wellness of kids, and we thought a contest was a great way to encourage children in our community to get fit,” said Adele Morgan, a Y swim coach and the registration coordinator for the event, in a release.

A frog trophy dubbed “The Hoppy” is being created especially for the contest and will go to the school with the highest percentage of runners in the race. Each year, a new name will be emblazoned on the trophy plaque as it travels to the winning school.

The supported the contest as a way to promote physical fitness among kids. 

“It is great to see our students participating in a community event that stresses the importance of a healthy lifestyle,” Superintendent Jorden Schiff said in the release.

Race organizers thought the trophy would be a way to recognize Hillsborough's youths, as well as motivate even more children and teens to get involved in physical activity. 

The Hop is a family-oriented event, with race categories set up to encourage parents to sign up with their children. The race offers prizes in the father-son, father-daughter, mother-son, and mother-daughter categories.

The event, which began in 2001 with 152 participants, has grown into an established community race which brings about 500 people annually to the starting line.

As runners take off to start the race, it has become a tradition for residents along the route to come outside their homes and cheer them on. The run takes place along a USATF-NJ sanctioned and certified course.

To keep the event safe and fun, a cap has been established this year of 700 runners. Those who want to participate can sign up here.

Last year, the Hop raised $20,000, with all proceeds benefiting the Strong Kids campaign. The Y uses this fund to assure that no child, family or adult is turned away from its programs because of an inability to pay. All proceeds from this year’s race once again will go to the campaign.