HAYWARD, Wis. (WJMC) — A new course record, and a fifth win for a couple of skiers in the American Birkebeiner race in Hayward on Saturday.
26-year-old Luke Jager, of Alaska, took first in men’s 50k skate with a finish of 1:50:45, a new course record. 29-year-old Alayna Sonnesyn, of Plymouth, Minnesota, took first in women’s 50k skate, with a finish of 2:08:10, and her fifth Birkie win, a tie for most wins with Caitlin Gregg.
Race officials credited warm temps and rain early in the week, followed by freezing temps, creating fast snow conditions.
Nearly 12,000 skiers participated in the events and races, held in Cable and Hayward, Thursday through Saturday last week.