The winners of Squamish's most hardcore trail-running ultramarathon have emerged, with local residents taking first place in numerous event divisions.
The , 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.
