February 23, 2008 (Hayward, Wis.) – Skiing on near-perfect conditions, Yuri Kozlov, Russia, and Kelly Skillicorn, Winona, Minn., skied to victory during the 53km classic American Birkebeiner finishing on Main Street in Hayward, Wisc. today. Kozlov finished the Birkie classic race in 2:32:25, and Skillicorn finished in 3:00:43.

Placing second in the men’s classic Birkie division, Shawn Miller, Duluth, Minn., finished in 2:36:57; and Grant Nelson, Duluth, Minn., placed third in 2:42:08. Placing second in the women’s classic Birkie division, Kerrie Fabius, Thunder Bay, Ontario, finished in 3:03:29, and Josie Nelson, Medicine Lake, Minn., placed third in 3:08:18.

In the 23-kilometer Kortelopet, Ocarz Santiago, Spooner, Wisc., took top honors in the men’s freestyle division in 58:27.3; Nick Maki from Aurora, Minn., placed second in 1:00:29, and Tim Cook, Rhinelander, Wisc., placed third with a time of 1:00:31.

In the women’s freestyle Kortelopet division, Jessie Diggins, Afton, Minn., took top honors in 1:05:35; Hilary Patzer, St Paul, Minn., placed second with a time of 1:07:40; and Ingrid Fjeldheim, Marquette, Mich., placed third with a time of 1:09:27.

In the men’s Kortelopet classic division, Anders Bowman, Plymouth, Minn., took first place with a time of 1:09:20; Kyle Demerath, Green Bay, Wisc., placed second in 1:09:54; and Dale Niggemann, Stevens Point, Wisc., placed third in 1:11:12.

In the women’s Kortelopet classic division, Staci Gilpin, Duluth, Minn., took first place with a time of 1:30:04; Cindy Storm, Savage, Minn., placed second in 1:31:54; and Erin Blow, Minocqua, Wisc., placed third in 1:31:56.

More than 9,000 skiers participated in 35th anniversary events from Feb. 21-23, 2008. For more race day results, log on to www.birkie.com.