It was a successful first day of competition in 2014 for the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club as they played host to the Super Saturday Series Meet #2 at the Dome @ Louis Riel this past weekend. The competition included a number of excellent results including a new Dome record set by youth athlete Claire Smith in the 1500m.
Smith, coming off an outstanding cross country season, showed she also has some speed in those legs, easily winning the women’s contest in 4:30.70. The old record had been set by former World Junior team member Jennie Biewald who ran 4:33.78 at the very first meet held in the Dome back on November 27, 2005.
A trio of 400m sprinters also posted national level performances. In the men’s 600m, veteran Michael Roberston led from the gun, taking victory in an impressive 1:18.55. The mark was just one tenth of a second off his own Dome record, set back in December 2008, but currently ranks him first in the country.
Following behind Robertson was first year junior, Matthew Bedard. A national youth silver medallist over 300m hurdles this past summer, Bedard showed he has the legs to move up to 400m hurdles this summer, as he crossed the line in 1:20.91. The time currently ranks him as the top junior in the country.
In the 300m, Gordon Frenke outclassed the large field, posting an excellent season opening time of 33.93 seconds to claim victory. Like his 400m colleagues, Frenke’s time also has him currently ranked first in Canada.
Mohamed Souleiman had a strong debut over 3000m, running 8:25.37 to edge club mate Joshua Karanja, who finished second in 8:25.49.
Running in Windsor, Olympian Melissa Bishop opened her season with a winning performance over 1500m, crossing the line in 4:24.52.
The Lions return to action this Friday and Saturday in Canton, N.Y., as they take part in the St. Lawrence University Invitational.
