Under bright, sunny skies, more than 1,100 people surged from the starting line this morning in the largest-ever Hillsborough Hop 5K since it began as a community event 14 years ago.
The record crowd of runners took off from outside the Hillsborough Branch of the Somerset Valley YMCA, wound through neighborhood streets and crossed the finish line at the township municipal building on Amwell Road, where an awards ceremony took place.
Repeating as the first place winner was Brian Crowley of Hillsborough with a time of 16.26 minutes.
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A recognized community event, the Hillsborough Hop is a family-friendly race that had fathers and mothers running with sons and daughters, and teens, adults and kids. Children as young as 5 ran alongside adults as old as 81.
Helping to push the numbers up this year were numerous community groups and organizations. iRun, a girls running club sponsored by the Hillsborough Township schools, brought 300 runners. The Somerset Valley Swim team had 200 registered participants.
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Other groups included Let Me Run, a Hopewell-based club for young boys, and Steps Together, a Hillsborough nonprofit that raises money to support those facing medical crises.
“It’s wonderful to be able to offer an event that serves the needs of the community and is so well-received,” said Valerie Giacopelli, executive director of the Hillsborough Branch. “The township has always been very supportive of our race. And we also have many volunteers who help out year after year. We are very excited at how much this race has grown.”
The race is a benefit for the nonprofit Somerset Valley YMCA, which has branches in Bridgewater, Hillsborough and Somerville.
“The money raised by this event goes to our Annual Support fundraising campaign, which allows our Y to keep its doors open to all in the community regardless of income, ” said David Carcieri, CEO, as he thanked the runners before the start of the race for signing up. “Your support is essential for us to be able to make a difference our communities.”
Bridgewater resident Gary Kuscan ran in his sixth Hop yesterday, with his daughter Laura.
“I like the cause. I like the neighborhood run. I’ve seen the Hop grow from a few hundred to a more than a thousand this year which means that support from the community is strong,” said Mr. Kucsan. “It’s also an extremely well-organized event.”
The Hop has many volunteers and sponsors without which the event could not take place.
“The success of this race is a testament to our dedicated volunteers and staff,’’ said Mr. Carcieri.
Among those who placed in the race are Stephen Rathbun of Syracuse, who came in second and James Cao of Highland Park, who finished third.
The top female was Lara Sheqoski, of Belle Meade, followed by Lindsay McMeen of Hillsborough. Full results can be found athttp://www.compuscore.com/event/3380
“This race has become a spring tradition in our community,” said Adele Morgan race coordinator. “It’s great We’re so pleased to have so many families and community members come out each year and support the Y by participating in our Hop 5K.”
Sponsors for the race include: Somerset Medical Center-Urgent Care, College Hunks Hauling Junk, Frontier Financial Planning & Capitol Management, Hillsborough Education Association, Hillsborough Podiatry Group, Somerset Valley YMCA Board of Directors, Roycefield Swim and Club; Vernoia, Enterline & Brewer, CPA, LLC, Martyn Associates, Inc., and Carrier Clinic.
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The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change.
