Tad Elliott leads American top-3 sweep at Birkebeiner

HAYWARD, Wis. — Tad Elliott, of Durango, Colo., won the 39th American Birkebeiner today, leading an American sweep of the top three men's spots in the 50-kilometer race from Cable to Hayward.

Holly Brooks, of Anchorage, Alaska, edged defending champion Caitlin Gregg to win the women's race.

Elliott's winning time was 2 hours, 4 minutes, 48.5 seconds. He was followed by Matthew Liebsch, of Orono, Minn., at 2:05:02.3; and Brian Gregg, of Minneapolis, at 2:05:03.4.

Brooks' winning time was 2:18:53.2 was a half-second ahead of Caitlin Gregg, Brian's wife, who finished at 2:18:53.7. Jennie Bender, of Maple Plain, Minn., finished third in 2:21:46.4.

Full results can be found here.

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