The winners of Squamish's most hardcore trail-running ultramarathon have emerged, with local residents taking first place in numerous event divisions.
The Squamish 50, which took place from Aug. 20 to 21 this year, gives people from all over the world a chance to participate in either a 23-kilometre, 50-kilometre, 50-mile, or 50-50 race, with the lattermost being a 50-kilometre and 50-mile race combined.
For the 50-mile event, the winner in the mens' category was a Squamish resident. John Dean took first with a time of 8:18:05.
Two Calgarians made second and third place. Kevin Biggs took second with a time of 8:24:13 and Joren Titus was third with a time of 8:32:11.
For the women, the winner was Priscilla Forgie of Edmonton, who crossed the finish line at 8:44:30.
Vancouver's Kat Drew was next up with a time of 9:08:10.
Samantha Drove of North Vancouver was next with a time of 9:48:36.
For the 50-kilometre event, the winner in the men's category was Squamish's Nick Elson. He took home the gold with a time of 4:48:05.
Joshua Potvin of North Vancouver was next, crossing the finish at 5:11:46. In third was another Squamish resident, Brendan Urlocker, who finished 5:24:40.
In the women's category, Jenny Quilty of Abbotsford took the gold at 5:44:20. Squamish's Alicia Woodside took silver at 6:06:42. Heather Gallagher was third with a time of 6:08:53.
For the 23-kilometre event, local Alexandre Ricard clinched gold in the men's division with a time of 1:41:36, giving Squamish another win.
Brendan Hunt, another Squamish resident, was second with a time of 1:51:22. James Orr of Collingwood, Ont., was third with a time of 2:02:45.
In the women's division, Squamish's Kalie McCrystal took the win with a time of 2:05:39. Anne-Marie Madden of Vancouver took second with a time of 2:10:46. Third place went to Izzy Lynch of Revelstoke, who clocked in at 2:21:02.
Finally, for the gruelling 50-50 event, the winner in the men's division was John Dean of Squamish, coming in with a time of 14:06:14. Up next was Surrey's Simon Widmann, who arrived at the finish at 14:21:12. Finally, John Maxwell of Snohomish, WA, was third with a time of 15:20:54.
The winner in the women's division was Priscilla Forgie, who took first, punching the clock at 15:13:00. Christina Mosley of Issaquah, WA, took second with a time of 18:29:11. Saskatoon's Mandy Currie was third after crossing the finish line at 18:38:07.
There were also three new all-time records set this year.
Nick Elson of Squamish set a new men's benchmark for the 50-kilometre event at 4:48:05, while Alexandre Ricard, another local, raised a new bar for the men's 23-kilometre at 1:41:36.
Finally, for the signature 50-50 event, Edmonton's Priscilla Forgie clocked in a time of 15:13:00, which has become the new standard for the women's division.
