One of my lung complications is EIB (or EIA as sometimes called) and I know a few of my friends have mentioned similar symptoms even though they do not have Asthma. According to this link up to 15% of athletes who do not have Asthma can suffer from EIB.
My main technique to try to battle EIB is a decent CV warm up before a race. In fact I warm up the longest for the shorter races, as the sudden impact of a near sprint start brings on the tightening in a more intense way.
Anyway rather than put it in my own words I think this articule gives a good explanation
http://vitals.lifehacker.com/why-you-wheeze-when-you-exercise-in-the-cold-1753746217
