Steve Czymbor (383) lads Eric Larson (327) and others at the Shillelagh Four Mile. Photo by Charles Douglas McEwen.

FLUSHING (3/22) -- Last year, Steve Czymbor of Hemlock battled Eric Green for the first mile before running away with the Shillelagh Four- Mile Run. This year, Czymbor, 18, led from start to finish on a cloudy, 45- degree afternoon.

This spring-starting race had another strong turnout with more than 964 entrants. Each received an embroidered sweatshirt before competing, and a green carnation upon crossing the finish line.

Czymbor, who set a 20:23 PR, had hoped for better. "I ran a 20:26 in practice last summer, so I was hoping to be significantly faster today," he said.

Fenton's Kirk Walrath, 33, and Eric Larson, 32, followed Czymbor across the finish line. Another Fentonite, Winston Stoody, was the men's masters winner in 22:28.

"The course was up and down hill much of way," said Walrath. "I liked it, because it was more down hill than up."

"It's a great course," Larson added. "You like it or hate it at the end, because you go down a really-steep hill the last 200 yards. I liked it today, because there was nobody side-by-side with me. I didn't want to sprint full-speed down it, because it really drops off, which is not too good for the knees."

Larson's wife, Suzanne, 25, was the women's champion in 25:33. "I wanted to get under 26 minutes," she said. "So I'm happy about my time."

Suzanne Larson had run this race several times before, but had never come close to winning. "I married a guy who's a really-good runner," she said. "He's helping me with my training. "We run together a lot, adding miles and speedwork over time," she went on. "I'm running close to 50 miles a week now, almost double the mileage I did last year."

Ann Lindow of Frankenmuth finished second to Larson in 26:21. Holly James of Hazel Park came in third in 27:09. Joannie Rogucki of Pinckney was master's queen in 28:37.

"This is the eighth time I've run Shillelagh," Rogucki said. "My favorite part is the downhill finish."

The race also featured a Leprechaun Lope that attracted 150 youngsters, which made total turnout more 1,100 participants. For complete results, go to www.gaultracemanagement.com. MR