Kyle Baker (bib number 4) crossed in 14:37 to claim $600 first-place money.
CUTLERVILLE (6/11/05) - Kyle Baker was cookin' and Nicole Hunt tracked down her prey at the 16th annual Brian Diemer Amerikam 5K this torrid day.

Baker, 29, a former Michigan State University All-American, outlegged a record 807 finishers, crossing in 14:37 to claim $600 first-place money.

Next came three-time defending champ and course record-holder Matt Thull, 30, of Milwuakee (14:46), 1998 Michigan Runner magazine Runner of the Year Ian Forsyth, 33, of Ann Arbor (14:49) and new U.S. masters 10,000-meter record-holder Paul Aufdemberge, 40, of Redford (15:03).

The last couple years have been long for Baker, MR's 2002 Runner of the Year, with injuries derailing his charge up the national road-race rankings. The former MSU assistant coach moved recently to Grand Rapids, where he plans to attend Kendall College of Art and Design ... and continue running.

"I've been going hard the last month and felt tired in the heat. But I'm healthy. I'm making progress," Baker said.

Aufdemberge, MR's 1996, 1999 and 2000 Runner of the Year, ran the race in glasses, befitting his new status as a master. But don't roll the wheelchair out just yet. Aufdemberge, who expects to replace the specs with new contacts soon, set a course masters record, earned $500 as top male 40 and over, then watched his children run post-race Junior Jogs. Clear sight, fore and aft, is a joy indeed.

Hunt, 35, from Deer Lodge, Mont., stalked Denisa Costescu, 29, of Wixom, till time was ripe, then sprang past her. Defending women's champ Betsy Frens, 30, of Kalamazoo, also reeled in the front-running ex-Romanian.

Hunt, training for the U.S. outdoor 10,000-meter nationals two weeks later, prevailed in 16:39; Frens crossed in 16:40. Costescu settled for third in 16:53.

Debbie Kilpatrick-Morris, 41, from Strongville, Ohio, finished fourth overall and was first-place master in 17:11. Laurel Park, 42, of Ann Arbor, crossed next in 17:30.

Diemer, for whom the race is named, was a genial host, if less generous than in past years. The 1984 steeplechase bronze medalist, 43 now, finished in 17:10 - a far cry from the 14:06 he ran winning on the old Wyoming course 14 years ago, but almost a minute faster than last year's 18:07, when he had to buy donuts for 49 finishers who beat him.

He held donut damages to less than three dozen this year. Thus buoyed, the landscape company owner, Calvin College distance coach, dad and husband drove his vintage red Farm-All tractor in the Cutlerville Days Parade, handed out tractor race trophies, emceed Junior Jogs and made sure - on a long, hot summer day in his hometown - that cool fun reigned.

Complete results are available online at michiganrunner.net. MR