It was a productive day on the track in Canton, New York yesterday, as the Ottawa Lions ventured down to St. Lawrence University to kick off the indoor season. It total, Lions athletes won 14 individual events and set four new meet records.
Mohammed Soulieman kicked things off in the mile by edging out teammate Remy Binns to take the race in 4:22.63. Binns finished in 4:23.77. Soulieman, who is known more for the 800m, shaved nearly eight seconds off the previous record.
Next to take down a meet record was Victoria McIntyre, who won the women’s 300m by more than a second, in 40.63. The performance was also a new personal best for the Ashbury Collegiate senior, who’s previous best was a 40.87 second effort at the Dome @ Louis-Riel in February. McIntyre also attempted the long jump for the first time yesterday, finishing third with a best jump of 4.80m. She would cap off the day by splitting 24.8 seconds in the 4x200m relay and helping her team to a second place finish.
Rounding out record breaking performances on the track, Garrett de Jong took more than 16 seconds off the previous meet best in the 3000m, crossing the line in 8:52.72
While not setting any new records, Charifa Labarang came about as close as possible to doing so in the 60m. In fact, the sprinter won both her heat and the final in equal times of 7.79 seconds, just 0.01 seconds off the meet record set by training partner Shelani Fernando at last year’s meet.
Pole vaulter Melinda Rock was the only field event athlete to set a meet record as she cleared 3.30m, adding 10cm to her own record set last year. Training partner Kim-Quyen Vuong was second in the event with a 2.75m clearance.
Other athletes to post victories Saturday included:
Charlotte Gardner, 500m, 1:18.97
Emma Galbraith, 1000m, 2:56.08
Devyani Biswal, 60m hurdles, 8.97 PB
Hannah-Kelsey Smith, Long Jump, 5.00m
Tolu Makinde, 300m, 35.80
Gord Frenke, 500m, 1:05.62
Sekou Kaba, 60m hurdles, 8.41
Ahmed Al-Slaq, Triple Jump, 13.12m
The Ottawa Lions will return to the track Saturday, December 15th as they host the 1st Super Saturday Meet at the Dome @ Louis-Riel
