North Vancouver’s Alexandre Campbell made history at the 2025 Squamish 50 in British Columbia by smashing the long-standing 50/50 course record. The ultrarunner completed both the 50-mile and 50K races, leaving a lasting mark on the event.
Campbell dominated Saturday’s 50-mile race, finishing in 7 hours, 39 minutes, and 26 seconds, winning by 35 minutes. The following day, he placed fifth in the 50K with a time of 5:06:19. His combined time of 12 hours, 45 minutes, and 44 seconds shattered the previous record of 13:45:10, set by American Michael Wardian in 2014. The new mark improves Campbell’s own personal best of 14:07:07 from 2024 by over 80 minutes.
Campbell’s performance also outpaced the rest of the field by more than an hour. Local runner John Dean, who won the 2023 Squamish 50/50, finished second overall with a combined time of 13:55:30. Golden, Colorado’s Seth Wealing took third with 14:36:39. Campbell’s victory is the culmination of consistent top performances, after finishing second and third in previous years.
On the women’s side, Langley’s ultra-distance star Jade Belzberg defended her 50K title with a new record of 5:08:59. This shaved seven minutes off her own course record set last year. Belzberg’s win was decisive, finishing 51 minutes ahead of her closest competitor. Vancouver’s Sophie Yates finished second in 6:00:17, while Squamish local Sandra Kilmartin claimed third place with 6:05:03. Belzberg’s consistent performance at Squamish highlights her dominance in women’s ultrarunning, improving upon a course record she had already broken the previous year.
The Squamish 50/50 challenges runners with a grueling two-day format, combining a 50-mile trail race with a 50K distance event. The course includes steep climbs, technical trails, and varying weather conditions, testing endurance and strategy. Campbell’s record-setting performance is notable not only for the time but also for the consistency required to excel across two demanding events. His effort demonstrates elite-level fitness, pacing, and resilience, setting a new benchmark for future competitors.
Belzberg’s continued success in the 50K race reinforces her position as one of Canada’s leading ultrarunners. Her ability to maintain speed while handling technical terrain has set a high standard for women in the sport. With Campbell and Belzberg raising the bar, the 2025 Squamish 50 will be remembered as a milestone year. Both athletes have set new expectations for what is possible in ultramarathon racing. The record-breaking times also reflect the growing competitiveness and depth of ultrarunning talent in British Columbia and beyond.
Runners looking to challenge the Squamish 50/50 in the future will now aim to beat the 12:45:44 combined time and Belzberg’s 50K mark of 5:08:59. These results will inspire both seasoned ultrarunners and newcomers to test their limits on the iconic British Columbia trails.