Two Athlete of the Year awards, two Hall of Fame inductions, and three new banners for our office at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility—Saturday night’s Athletics Ontario Awards Banquet in Toronto was a remarkable evening of celebration for the Ottawa Lions.
Two Athlete of the Year awards, two Hall of Fame inductions, and three new banners for our office at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility—Saturday night’s Athletics Ontario Awards Banquet in Toronto was a remarkable evening of celebration for the Ottawa Lions.
Leading the charge was Jorai Oppong-Nketiah, whose 2024 season was nothing short of spectacular. At the Athletics Ontario Outdoor Championships, Jorai captured gold in both the U18 100m and 200m, along with a bronze in the U18 4x100m relay. She also earned silver in the U20 100m, demonstrating her ability to excel across multiple age groups.
Her dominance continued on the national stage at the Athletics Canada U18 Championships, where she took home gold in both the 100m and 200m, setting a Championship record in the 100m. At the National U20 Championships, she further cemented her reputation with a Canadian U18 record in the 100m, alongside winning gold in the U20 100m and silver in the U20 200m—an impressive feat for such a young athlete.
Zachary Jeggo, who also claimed the title of Ontario’s Top U18 athlete, displayed a season of consistent excellence. Jeggo shined on the national stage in 2024, where he amassed an impressive seven medal haul. The 17-year-old captured his first individual national title when set a Championship record in the 400 metre hurdles at the Canadian U18 Championship. That gold medal was one of four medals he captured in Calgary.
Competing up an age category at the Canadian U20 Championships, Jeggo picked up bronze and silver in the 400 and 400 hurdles respectively before ending the Championship by anchoring the Lions to silver in the 4×400 relay. His performances throughout the year have set a high standard, inspiring the next generation of Ottawa Lions athletes.
In addition to Jorai and Zachary’s incredible achievements, Wendy Alexis was recognized with a nomination for Masters Athlete of the Year. Wendy’s long-standing success and dedication continue to inspire everyone within the Ottawa Lions community.
The Hall of Fame welcomed Stuart McGregor, inducted in the athletes category. A three-time Paralympic medalist for Canada in the T13 800m, McGregor’s remarkable career saw him rise to the top of international competition. To this day, he still holds Canadian records in the T13 400m and 800m, further cementing his legacy in Canadian athletics.
The evening also celebrated the legacy of Pat Reid, who was inducted into the Athletics Ontario Hall of Fame in the Builder category. Pat spent 35 years contributing to the sport, coaching athletes to 16 national titles and leading Canadian teams at major international events, including the 1984 Olympics, 1986 Commonwealth Games, and the 1987 Pan American Games. He also served as a member of the Athletics Ontario board, playing a key role in shaping the sport’s growth and development in the province.
In addition to the individual accolades, the Lions were presented with three Ontario Championship banners for their team success this past season. For the first time since 2015, the Ottawa Lions were crowned Ontario Overall Club Champions. As well, the Lions captured both the U20 and U18 team titles. With this year’s haul, the Club has now amassed 58 team titles since 2000.