Sports
Hillsborough Grad Sets Record in Resolution Run
11th annual event attracts runners from as far as Ireland on New Year's Day.
It’s a new year and for many in Hillsborough and surrounding towns that means participating in the 11th annual Resolution 5K Run and Walk held New Year's Day morning at the .
About 525 of the 600 registered runners of all ages—from 8 to 88—came out in the perfect weather to run or walk the course which after looping around the municipal building heads through the development behind the municipal complex and then back to finish in front of the library.
The top male and female runners were Jordan Magath, of Hillsborough, and Kavitha Manley, of Piscataway. Magath, a former standout cross country runner, set a new course record with a time of 15:49.7.
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Complete race results can be found here.
Most of the runners were local to central New Jersey but the race drew competitors as far as Colorado, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New York, North Carolina and Wisconsin. The award for the farthest travel distance was the Lohan family from Dublin Ireland who were in the country visiting their grandmother, who lives in Belle Mead.
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Another long distance visitor was Angelique Kerberat, of Camp Lejeune, N.C. Kerberat ran with her mother, Therese, who is a U.S. Marine stationed at Camp Lejuene. Kerberatwas anxious for the results to be posted online, so her step-father, a Marine stationed in Afghanistan, can see how she did.
With the unseasonably warm weather, most runners were dressed accordingly in shorts and T-shirts, except for Robert Kennedy, of Hillsborough, who came in a full Burger King costume, complete with mask.
“I’ve come as Santa Claus and Batman” Kennedy said. “Everyone loves the costumes. I just wish it had been a little cooler, it’s pretty hot under the mask."
With such an athletic group of runners getting up early on New Year's day most resolutions centered on running.
James Sellar, of Hillsborough, wants to make it to the Boston Marathon. Kate Blake, also of Hillsborough, who finished second in her age group with a time of 23:23 resolved to get her time into the 22s. Melva Murray, 79 of Bedminster, is hoping to run a half-marathon this year.
Resolutions though change with age. Michael Carr, of Somerset, who finished first in the 65-69 age bracket, just wants to be around to run in next year’s race.
The race proceeds benefit Project Graduation, which is an all-night, alcohol- and drug-free celebration planned and carried out by parents and community volunteers to help ensure the safety of Hillsborough's graduating class.
