Photo: Laurel Park and Richie Brinker won the 15th annual Hansons 5K.

UTICA (3/25/06) - Richie Brinker and Laurel Park left no questions in winning the 15th annual Hansons 5K Run.

Park, 43, of Ann Arbor, captured the women's race by a comfortable 27 seconds, while Brinker, 29, of Clarkston, bested the men's field by one minute and 28 seconds.

"Two minutes into the race and I couldn't see him (Brinker) anymore," said Jeff Rizer, 33, of Warren, who finished third in the men's race. "He just vanished."

The event had the largest turnout in its history, with more than 500 entered in either the 5K run and walk, or the 1-mile fun run. However, by the end of the first mile, Brinker and Park had buried the 5K field.

"I went out in 4:43 for the first mile," said Brinker, an assistant track coach at Holly High School, "and I paid for it a little bit at end."

Brinker finished in 14:53. Next came Jules Winfield, 24, of Lake Orion (16:21) and Rizer (16:37).

"I was in second until a mile and three-quarters," said Rizer. "Then he (Winfield) went by me, running a strong second mile. I couldn't keep up." John Tarkowski, 53, of Northville, was the masters champ (18:10).

Last year, Park set a women's course record, winning in 17:11. This year, she finished in 17:19.

"I don't do speed anymore, because my back can't handle it," said Park. "So these (5K races) are my speed workouts.

"My base-training has been good, but my quads were killing me at the end of the race," she said.

Kelly Stewart, 20, of Rochester Hills, a Hansons-Brooks Distance Project runner, took second (17:46). Finishing third, and first among the masters with overall-champion Park exempted, was Laura Murphy, 42, of Rochester (18:04).

"It's always competitive, here," said Murphy of the Hansons 5K."It's efficiently organized with lots of volunteers, and it's all for a very-worthy cause" (the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project).

Kevin and Keith Hanson were race directors. For more information, visit www.hansons-running.com. MR