January ended with a bang this past weekend with a number of Lions athletes putting up a series of outstanding performances.
Kevin Robertson made history by becoming just the fifth runner in the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club’s history, and the first since 2006, to break the 8-minute barrier for the 3000 metres. Robertson’s remarkable achievement was marked by a stellar time of 7:59.58, securing him a commendable 10th place finish in a highly competitive field.
Sydney Smith also showcased her outstanding talent, clocking an impressive time of 2:42.43 in the 1000 metres, which earned her a notable 5th place finish. Smith’s performance was not only a personal best but also shaved more than 5 seconds off her previous record. This remarkable feat catapulted Smith to second position on the Club’s all-time list, behind only Melissa Bishop-Nriagu.
“We are immensely proud of Kevin Robertson and Sydney Smith for their outstanding performances at the John Thomas Terrier Classic,” said head coach Richard Johnston. “Their dedication, hard work, and relentless pursuit of excellence exemplify the values of our club. We congratulate them on their remarkable achievements and look forward to witnessing their continued success through the rest of the season.”
Meanwhile, at the McGill Team Challenge, Adelle MacLeod and Connor Fraser made their mark with three new Carleton Ravens records.
Adelle MacLeod kicked off her meet by etching her name in the Carleton record books as the first woman to break the 11-metre barrier, achieving an impressive jump of 11.01 metres on Friday. She followed this remarkable feat on Saturday by equalling the school long jump record with a stellar leap of 5.00 metres, further solidifying her standout rookie season.
Connor Fraser showcased his remarkable strength and skill in the shot put event, adding 7 centimetres to his own Carleton Ravens record with an impressive heave of 15.27 meters to place third.
In Louisville, Kentucky, Maddie Seaby, currently completing her first year of studies at the University of Louisville, delivered an exceptional performance at the PNC Lenny Lyles Meet. Seaby ran a 12-second personal best of 9:43.34 to secure a fifth-place finish, making her the 8th fastest junior woman at 3000 metres and the 43rd woman in Club history to break the 10-minute barrier.
The varsity programs return to action on Friday as they head to Harvard University for the Crimson Elite meet before heading across town to the Scarlett and White meet at Boston University on Saturday.