HUNDREDS HIT THE STREETS
Hoagland, Geary are top finishers
SOUDERTON >> This year’s first place finish in the Moyer 5K wasn’t the first time Zach Hoagland won the annual run.
Previous wins during the about a dozen years he’s been in the race include 2019.
That doesn’t mean it gets easier, though.
“You push it every race,” said Hoagland, who finished in 15 minutes and 42 seconds. “No matter how many times you’ve done it, it’s still tough.”
Hoagland, who said he’s been running since he was 12, said he now coaches cross country.
“It can be a lifelong sport. Sure, there’s plenty of ups and downs, but it’s a beautiful thing to be able to come together and run,” said Hoagland, a Hatfield resident.
“It’s a really special night tonight because I think it’s one of the first times that people have been really able to get together and compete and just sort of have fun,” said Hoagland, who works part-time for North Wales Running Company.
Last year’s Moyer 5K was cancelled because of the pandemic.
“It was just great to see people out and together again, and really, it’s good
for the community,” said Alycia Geary, the first female finisher, with a 19 minutes, 24 seconds time.
Geary, a Harleysville resident, said she’s been running since she was in high school. This was the first
time she ran in the Moyer 5K, she said.
“It was good. It was hilly and very humid, but it was great,” she said.
People along the course had sprayers out to help cool off the runners, she said.
Geary said she also works for North Wales Running Company.
“I’m just happy to see people out and about. I just love that community events are being back and it’s nice to see so many people out exercising again,” she said.
The Moyer 5K, now in its 26th year, starts and ends at Souderton Community Park, with participants running a route along streets in Franconia, Telford and Souderton. There is also a 2-mile