A record number of runners rose early to beat the summer heat Saturday at the 15th annual Hillsborough YMCA Hop 5K, a benefit race for the Y. A total of 1,357 registered runners, ranging in age from 5 to 82, participated.
The runners warmed up to music before Hillsborough Mayor Douglas Tomson fired the starting pistol. The runners surged from the starting line outside the Hillsborough YMCA, wound through neighborhood streets and crossed the finish line at the township municipal building on South Branch Road.
Stephen Rathbun of Rahway took first place with a time of 16:01, followed by Brian Crowley of Hillsborough with a time of 17:21 minutes. Last year, Crowley came in first place and Rathbun was in second place.
The top female finisher was Jessica Braun, of Bridgewater, at 19:26 followed by Courtney Newman, of Hillsborough, coming in at 21:22.
The Hop 5K is a family-friendly race that had fathers and mothers running with sons and daughters, as well as teens, adults, kids and grandparents.
A list of male and female winners in all age group categories can be found at: http://www.compuscore.com/cs2015/may/hillhop.htm.
Hillsborough YMCA Executive Director Kim Cole announced the record turnout and thanked supportive community groups, including iRun, a girls’ running club sponsored by Hillsborough Township Schools; Steps Together, a Hillsborough nonprofit that raises money for those facing medical crises, and the Somerset Valley YMCA swim team. Those groups helped to boost this year’s race numbers with their participation.
Ms. Cole also thanked the many volunteers and race sponsors, including the Hillsborough Township Youth Services Commission, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset Sports Physical Therapy, and Hillsborough Radiology. the Hillsborough Education Association, College Hunks Hauling Junk, Frontier Planning and The Hillsborough Education Association.
Among the more than 100 volunteers were members of the Hillsborough High School football team, National Honor Society, local Girl Scouts and Hillsborough Education Association.
“We are so pleased with this year’s unprecedented attendance,” said Ms. Cole. “The Y is proud to host a community race that brings people of all ages together in fun, festive event that promotes healthy living.”
One young runner, Daniel Heredia of Hillsborough, was thrilled to be called up for an award. The 8-year-old boy told the crowd he wasn’t confident he would finish the race, but thanks to people who cheered him on and pushed him to keep going, he not only ran the full race, he came in first in the boys 8 and under category. With a time of 25.32, Daniel placed 175 overall.
The race is a benefit for the nonprofit Somerset County YMCA. The funds raised make it possible for the Y to keep programs and services available to all, regardless of income, age or background. Hillsborough YMCA, a branch of Somerset County YMCA, offers financial assistance for child care, summer camp, membership and other programs.
