Photo: Roman Krzyzanowski (no. 772), Pinckney and Sam Dolado, Howell race through the lights.

HOWELL (11/26/04) - Wearing blinking red lights on their sleeves, stocking caps, shoes and even noses, 956 runners and walkers lit up downtown Howell at the 10th annual Fantasy 5K Run.

The 6 p.m. race, held the Friday after Thanksgiving, precedes the Fantasy of Lights Parade.

"We had 1,032 entrants three years ago," said Jim Young, who with Peter Bowen and Sarah Blake is tri-race director. "So we almost got the record. But this is most we've had since then, so we're really pleased."

Zachery Castiglione, 19, of Brighton, and Erika Flannery, 22, of Ann Arbor, didn't wear the blinking lights, but they shined as men's and women's champions. Castiglione, who had just finished his cross country season at the University of Miami, and wore his green-and-red Hurricane uniform. Flannery, a fifth-year senior at the University of Michigan, just completed her cross career for the Wolverines.

Castiglione (16:34) jousted with Wade Wines, 19, of Pinckney (16:40) and Eric Green, 36, of Pontiac (16:41).

"I led for the first mile," Green remembered. "Then the second-place guy (Wines) pulled ahead and led through two miles."

Then the Hurricane passed them both. "It was a lot colder than Miami," Castiglione said of the bracing 35-degree night.

Eric Stuber, 41, of Lansing, was sixth overall and men's masters winner in 17:18. Rick Duhaim, 50, of Holly checked in at 19:22 for the grand masters title.

Flannery (19:55) edged Tanya Gauvin, 21, of Chelsea (20:02) and masters champ, Krys Brish, 41, of Milford (20:07). Maggy Zidar, 54, of Pontiac (23:03) was grand masters queen.

Flannery and her mom, Tracey Flannery, 44, of Perry, raced after a day of pre-Christmas shopping. "I've always wanted to a night race with the holiday lights," said Tracey.

"I liked the music and people dressed up in Santa and elf costumes too," she said.

For complete race results, visit michiganrunner.net/results / searchable.html. MR