"SPARTA Run," I told my daughter Flannery, 3, en route to the Michigan Flavorbest 5K Apple Run in this small town north of Grand Rapids.

She was understandably confused. Each year Sparta greets runners with a face that is far more shiny than reminiscent of the ancient Greek city famed and feared for its warriors. Sponsors give apple saplings and apple champagne to winners. Family fun includes free childcare, rug-rat races, Stinky Sneaker Contest and a chance to watch or ride in the town parade.

At the fore of this year's 717 5K finishers were 2001 Rockford High School graduates Brian Smith (15:21) and Linsey Blaisdell (17:51). The two have dated the last four years.

Smith, who now runs for Wake Forest University, finished well ahead of David Ruthven, 22, of Grand Rapids (15:46) and five other men who completed the flat, multi-turned course in better than 16 minutes.

Blaisdell, of the University of Wisconsin, found herself challenged by Kelloggsville High School senior-to-be Nicole Bush, whose Division 3 track and cross-country state-title haul stands at eight and counting. Blaisdell, three years older, prevailed; but Bush, 17, set a course age-group record with a 17:57.

The men's masters race was a barnburner, with Ken Stebbins, 45, of Midland (16:56) edging Scott Liversedge, 50, of Ada (16:57).

Hudsonville's Maureen Pluger, 40, cruised on the women's side. "The finish clock said 19:04, a PR for me," said Pluger. She was even happier when she learned her chip time was 18:59.

In the First-Shall-Be-Last category, Ed Berghuis, 86, of Fruitport, won his 80-and-older age group in 1:10:35. All in July-cool 60 degrees underneath a sky so blue you could see a three-quarter moon.

By the time Berghuis finished, kids' races had begun on the high-school track. Flannery, reluctantly freed from childcare, arrived in time to miss the start of the 4-and-younger 100 meters. Not a problem.

She joined the race somewhere near midway, continued running (if you could call it that) past the finish and around the entire oval, stopping to study painted markings, duck under hurdles on the grass, and play in a sandbox otherwise known as the long-jump pit.

This strategy so fooled competitors that she finished by herself (in fact, after two other children's races had been completed). She was given a medal anyway. "I won the Sparkle Run," she said all the way home. Indeed.

Complete results available online at http://www.classicrace.com. MR