By KALEY CONNER

kconner@dailynews.net

It was 4:45 a.m., and the countdown officially had begun.

Thousands of customers rushed into Hays' Walmart, hoping to catch the season's hottest deals on iPods, laptop computers, movies and digital cameras.

But for some, the Black Friday chaos began much sooner. Jason Dinkel came to the retail supercenter at midnight, hoping to be the first in line to secure a $200 laptop computer. And he was.

"I figured one morning wasn't going to kill me,'" Dinkel said.

And he wasn't alone. Dinkel, a resident of Topeka who was visiting family in Plainville, became acquainted with several other shoppers who had a similar thought. He was sitting in the book department with a large crowd this morning, many of whom had spent the night in the store.

Among them was Tiffany Butler, who traveled to Hays from Osborne on Thursday night. Butler and a friend also got a head start, leaving home at an early hour.

"Nine o'clock last night," Butler said.

They tried to make their stay an enjoyable one, talking and playing cards.

"If you want to make a random group of friends, go to Black Friday real early in the morning," Dinkel said.

It turned out to be a good thing the group went so early. The laptops they were after all had been claimed before 4:30 a.m.

Across the store, it was standing-room only in the electronics department. A large crowd had gathered, waiting for cameras and digital photo frames to go on sale.

Stockton resident Lori Pasilas was standing patiently in line, waiting for the clock to strike 5 a.m. She arrived at the store at 3:30 a.m. and was first in line for an iPod Touch.

"I have to wait 'til 5 so I've got a little time," Pasilas said with a laugh. "I should have brought my coffee in with me."

A few aisles over, Bree O'Gara and 11-year-old Sabryn O'Gara were kicking off the holiday season with an annual shopping trip. But the family, who resides in Gardner, usually hits early morning sales in the Kansas City area.

Bree O'Gara's red shirt, given as a family gift, pretty much summed it up: "Who needs Kansas City when we have The Mall?" Her sister-in-law had one to match, she said with a laugh.

"But we're excited," Bree O'Gara said. "We're getting lots of stuff we need. And we got here early."

Speaking of The Mall, a crowd of Black Friday shoppers also flocked to J.C. Penney, which opened its doors at 4 a.m. for the occasion. The Mall also organized a 6 a.m. breakfast to give weary shoppers a boost.

Nicole Spray was checking out clothing sales at the department store at 6 a.m. after finishing her early morning trip to Walmart. She appreciates the bargains, but shops early mostly for the holiday spirit, she said.

"Walmart was insane," Spray said. "(This is) much better."