Denisa Costescu (l) beat Betsy Frens by 13 seconds for the win.
EAST GRAND RAPIDS (3/19/05) -- Just because a Kenyan, Romanian and Hispanic leprechaun toting the Stars and Stripes won the Spectrum Health Irish Jig didn't mean the race was a melting pot. Not with a blizzard bombarding 1,567 finishers in the 5K, considered the spring- and race-season opener in these parts.

Men's and women's champions Boaz Cheboiywo and Denisa Costescu have lived in Michigan long enough to know snow happens, hence running is often done on surfaces the consistency of a Slurpee.

Cheboiywo, 2002 NCAA cross country titlist for Eastern Michigan University, broke from the lead pack on a rare stretch of unslushy pavement and cruised to triumph in 15:16.

"Boaz can jog a 5K in 15:16," said men's masters champion Mike Scannell, 42, sixth overall in 15:51. "His time shows how slippery it was, especially on the turns."

Trailing the Kenyan were former EMU teammate Steven Crane (15:30) and 1998 Michigan Runner of the Year Ian Forsyth (15:39).

Four-time Irish Jig champ Kyle Baker, returning to racing after more than a year off with injuries, settled for seventh in 16:04.

Romanian Costescu, winner of 28 races in 2004, met another woman who rarely loses, seven-time Calvin College All-American Betsy Frens. They ran side-by-side early, as if to measure each other up, then Costescu pulled away to prevail in 17:24.

Tomas Ojeda was named best-dressed leprechaun.
After Frens (17:37) came women's masters queen Laurel Park (18:43).

The Jig -- first in a Standard Federal Bank Triple Crown Series that will also include the Brian Diemer 5K in Cutlerville June 11 and Reeds Lake 5K in East Grand Rapids June 25 -- awards $600 to overall winners, $300 to runners-up, then $150, $75 and $25 for the next three places.

The first three masters (over age 40) receive $150, $100 and $50. Top grand masters (60 and over) Matt Britton and Sharon Dolan won $100 each.

Also pocketing $100 was best-dressed leprechaun Tomas Ojeda, 49, a retired navy cryptotech who jerry-rigged a St. Patrick's Day flag around him, donned a green derby and drove halfway to East Grand Rapids before remembering he had forgotten his U.S. flag.

"I'm also an ex-marine," said Ojeda. "I have to run with the flag." So he did a U-turn, retrieved Old Glory, and, car almost out of gas, reached the start in the nick of time.

Informed he would have to do a jig to win the best-leprechaun check, Ojeda replied in marine-banzai fashion, "Hoo-yah!" Then he danced his way to the prize.

Many survivors of the slop found themselves pirouetting to just stay upright. Their enjoyment was palpable nonetheless.

"I had a blast," said one of the minions, brushing snowflakes and angel- food cake crumbs from her kelly-green shirt. "What a great way to start the year."

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