American Birkebeiner: Gregg repeats; Europeans dominate men's race

Sun, Feb  23, 2014 - By  Jon Nowacki

HAYWARD — Caitlin Gregg took a long-distance phone call on Saturday in Hayward about two hours after finishing the 41st American Birkebeiner cross-country ski marathon.

It was her husband, Brian, calling from the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where he was preparing to compete for Team USA in the men’s 50-kilometer mass start freestyle race.

Before signing off with “love you, babe,” Caitlin wished Brian luck, and Brian congratulated Caitlin on winning the Birkie.

Caitlin Gregg, 33, was dialed in on Saturday, taking control mid-race and never looking back in defending her women’s title, covering the 50K Birkie Skate from Cable in 2 hours, 40 minutes, 57.4 seconds, more than a minute ahead of Italian Antonella Confortola Wyatt and American Rosie Brennan.

Gregg, a three-time Birkie champ, had a bloody nose afterward, but she just shrugged it off.

See the full article, "American Birkebeiner: Gregg repeats; Europeans dominate men's race", in the Duluth News Tribune.