DaytonDailyNews.com

Count 2008 Olympic gold medalist Mary Wineberg, wife of Springfield Northeastern High School graduate Chris Wineberg, among those who are tired of hearing the Bengals' Chad Ocho Cinco run his mouth.

Wineberg, who won gold as part of the United States' 1,600-meter relay team in August, recently laid down the gauntlet to the mouthy Cincinnati wide receiver during an interview that's posted on YouTube.

"I had just heard when I got back that he was talking about the Olympic athletes, how he can beat Michael Phelps and stuff like that, so I figured I could give him a run for his money," said Wineberg on Thursday, Sept. 25.

So Wineberg challenged him to a 400-meter race.

"I figured since I'm a local athlete, maybe he'd accept," she said. "I'm just throwing it out there. Hopefully, he'll contact me and we can arrange it."

Wineberg is confident of the outcome.

"I am looking at it in terms that I know I can beat him in the 400 meters, but if he does get back to me, I'd like for the proceeds to go to charity," she said.

Wineberg is enjoying a little celebrity treatment of her own.

"I threw out the first pitch at a Reds home game," she said. "I wouldn't say (people treat me) differently. A lot of people don't know I am Mary Wineberg the person.

"It's interesting talking with people. Once they realize I am the girl they are always reading about, then they get excited."

She also hopes to do more work in schools, "talking to kids about pursuing their dreams."

As far as racing Ocho Cinco, she knows her limits.

"I think if I shorten the race to 100 meters, he might get me on that," she said. "I'm open for negotiations on the distance — a little."

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0364 or krowe@coxohio.com.