KRASNAYA POLYANA, RUSSIA – Brian Gregg hadn't competed in a full 30K skiathlon since 2009, so the north Minneapolis resident said he wasn't disappointed in his 47th-place finish Sunday at the Winter Olympics.

Making his Olympic debut, Gregg posted a time of 1 hour, 13 minutes, 26.3 seconds. Switzerland's Dario Cologna took gold in 1:08:15.4.

"It was awesome," Gregg said. "I was actually pretty happy with the race. I didn't have the best classic portion, but that hasn't really been my strong suit. In the [free], I caught about 10 guys. I was pretty happy with that."

Gregg said the course at Laura Cross Center is "probably the toughest course I've ever skied."

Gregg is scheduled to compete in the 50K mass start freestyle on Feb. 23. "That's the race that I've sort of had my eye on the last eight years," he said.

CHIP SCOGGINS