A torrent of wildfire smoke blanketing town over the weekend couldn’t stop racers from taking on one of the most arduous races in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Warnings from Environment Canada about diminshed air quality ratings were a concern.
Organizers offered partial refunds and guaranteed spots in next year’s race to any who felt health issues would prevent them from participating.
Nevertheless, hundreds of runners competed in each category, and some were able to set new event records.
The Â鶹Éç¹ú²ú50 crowned new champions in its 50-mile, 50-50, 50-kilometre, and 23-kilometre divisions.
Canadian talent dominated the men’s podium in the 50 Mile division.
Organizers consider the 50-mile the event’s feature race. It includes over 90 per cent singletrack and more than 11,000 feet of climbing and descent.
For the men’s class, Calgary runner Karl Augsten took first place with a time of seven hours, 40 minutes and 37 seconds.
The current record for the event remains Dakota Jones’ 2017 performance (7:31:09), which was set in similar, but less severe, smoky conditions.
Mike Sidic of Vancouver arrived second at seven hours, 49 minutes and 16 seconds.
North Vancouver’s Mike McMillan was third at seven hours, 55 minutes and 45 seconds.
For the women’s division, American runner Courtney Dauwalter of Golden, Colorado, took first at eight hours, 22 minutes a 15 seconds.
This was a record-breaker, besting the previous standard set by Cassie Scallon in 2015 at eight hours, 37 minutes and 31 seconds.
Vancouver’s Darbykai Standrick was second at eight hours, 45 minutes and 22 seconds.
Another Vancouverite, Kat Drew, wound up at third with a time of nine hours, three minutes and 40 seconds.
For most the gruelling challenge, there was the 50-50, which is composed of a 50-mile course, plus a 50-kilometre run.
Among the men, Colin Miller (14:16:10) was first. John Maxwell was second (14:52:40) and Gabe Wishnie (15:39:46) took bronze.
No records were broken — Mike Wardian’s 2014 time (13:45:10) still stands as the best.
The winners among the women were Adrienne Dunbar (17:29:02) with gold; Emily Sabo (17:57:23) with silver and Kristen Hansen (19:03:37) taking bronze.
No records were broken in this category either. Kaytlyn Gerbin’s 2016 record (16:39:41) is still the fastest time.
The 50-kilometre men’s winners were, from first to third, were Etienne Robert (5:18:58); Xavier Bouchard (5:20:14) and Ian McKinley (5:35:53).
The all-time best remains Adam Campbell’s 2014 run (4:55:08).
For the women in this category, the podium was taken by Catrin Jones (5:53:58); Jeanelle Hazlett (6:01:55) and Arden Young (6:03:18).
Ellie Greenwood remains the record holder for her 2014 performance (5:20:39).
Finally, the victors in the 23-kilometre men’s race were Â鶹Éç¹ú²úathlete Brendan Hunt (1:43:49); Marcus Allen (1:58:10) and Tyson Newell (2:04:22).
Hunt’s performance is a record-setter, besting the previous time set by Mario Mendoza in 2014 (1:45:28).
For the women, the winners were Cheryl Pepin (2:01:30); Liza Pye (2:20:42) and Erin Woodrow (2:20:42). Anne-Marie Madden’s 2017 record (1:55:33), however, still stands.
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***Please note this story has been updated as of Aug. 23,Ìý9:58 a.m.
- clarifies Courtney Dauwalter is from Colorado
-adds that Brendan Hunt is from Squamish
-corrects Cassie Scallon's 2015 record timeÌý
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