'Fab Five' running team of county execs places 3rd

Robert Ficano and Mark Hackel may not be names that come to mind when pondering sporting accomplishments associated with “The Fab Five.”

But Ficano and Hackel, the Wayne County and Macomb County executives, respectively, and Conan Smith, chairman of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, have brought newly found glory to “The Fab Five” — at least for another day. The trio finished third out of 26 teams competing in the 5k team challenge at The Brooksie Way Half Marathon and 5k races in September. The official team challenge results were just released. There were a total of 57 teams in both races, nearly double the 2011 number.

Patterson, who was unable to attend the race because he is recovering from injuries suffered in August in a serious auto accident, thanked his counterparts for entering the race and expressed mild surprise at the team’s fine performance.

“Congratulations to my sandbagging Democratic friends from Wayne, Macomb and Washtenaw counties,” Patterson said. “Their first time at the party and already they want to lead the band.”

Team members will be presented with a commemorative plaque during a celebration honoring the top finishers of the Team Challenge early next year. The team included Jeffrey Collins, Dana Smith, Ton Gray, Anthony Wickersham, June Lee and June West.

About 5,800 runners registered for the 2012 Brooksie Way Half Marathon and 5k, with about 1,500 runners entering the 5k race.

The Brooksie Way, celebrating its fifth year, is named in memory of Brooks Stuart Patterson, a young father and the son County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who died in 2007. Proceeds from the race support The Brooksie Way Minigrant program.

“I was surprised they were as competitive as they were and finished as high as they did,” race director Deb Kiertzner said. “We had some serious teams competing and the Fab Five knocked them out of third place.”

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