Alaska's Luke Jager sets course record in Birkie victory

Jager completed the 50-kilometer course in a record one hour, 50 minutes, 44.95 seconds.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Luke Jager of Anchorage, Alaska won the 52nd annual American Birkebeiner Nordic ski race in downtown Hayward, Wisconsin on Saturday, setting a new course record of one hour, 50 minutes, 44.95 seconds. Jager had a winning margin of less than half a second over fellow Alaskan Michael Earnhart, with the top nine finishers arriving within five seconds of each other. Alayna Sonnesyn of Plymouth, Minnesota won the women's 50-kilometer freestyle race for a record-tying fifth time.

Why it matters

The American Birkebeiner is one of the premier cross-country ski races in North America, attracting top athletes from around the world. Jager's record-setting performance and the close finishes in both the men's and women's races highlight the high level of competition and the fast conditions on the course this year.

The details

Despite less snow in the region, the course conditions were ideal on Saturday, with fast, lightning-fast snow helping Jager set the new course record. Jager had a winning margin of less than half a second over fellow Alaskan Michael Earnhart, and the top nine finishers arrived within a span of less than five seconds. In the women's race, Alayna Sonnesyn of Plymouth, Minnesota returned to the top of the podium for a record-tying fifth time, crossing the line in 2:08:09.61, just ahead of Germany's Anna-Maria Dietze.

  • The 52nd annual American Birkebeiner Nordic ski race took place on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • Luke Jager completed the 50-kilometer course in one hour, 50 minutes, 44.95 seconds, setting a new course record.

The players

Luke Jager

A 26-year-old cross-country skier from Anchorage, Alaska who won the men's 50-kilometer race at the 2026 American Birkebeiner.

Michael Earnhart

Another Alaskan cross-country skier who finished second, less than half a second behind Jager.

Alayna Sonnesyn

A cross-country skier from Plymouth, Minnesota who won the women's 50-kilometer freestyle race at the 2026 American Birkebeiner, her fifth victory in the event.

Anna-Maria Dietze

A German cross-country skier who finished second in the women's 50-kilometer freestyle race at the 2026 American Birkebeiner.

Chelsey Youngberg

A cross-country skier from Duluth, Minnesota who finished fifth in the women's 50-kilometer freestyle race at the 2026 American Birkebeiner.

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The takeaway

The close finishes and record-setting performance at the 2026 American Birkebeiner demonstrate the high level of competition and the importance of the event in the world of cross-country skiing. The race continues to attract top athletes from around the globe and showcase the sport's growth and popularity in North America.