The final day of the Athletics Ontario Cross Country Championships at Lakeridge Links Golf Club in Whitby showcased the grit and talent of the Ottawa Lions, with the U16 Girls team leading the way to the podium. Their bronze medal performance capped off a three medal haul weekend across all age categories.
U16 Girls Shine with Team Bronze
Sunday’s highlight undoubtedly came from the U16 Girls, who combined for a team bronze in the 4km race. Leading the charge was Laila Lebel, who finished 19th in 14:04, followed closely by teammates Isla Kittmer (22nd, 14:08), Riley Daniels (27th, 14:15), and Bianca Arabackyj (30th, 14:16). Emily Munro (80th, 15:31) rounded out the squad, sealing the team’s spot on the podium with a total score of 98 points. The team narrowly edged out Edge Sport Track Club, who finished just a single point behind the ladies.
Notable Performances in U14 Races
In the U14 Boys’ 2km race, Kai Lebel delivered a strong showing, crossing the line in 11th place with a time of 6 minutes and 2 seconds. He was joined by teammate Jaiden Taft, who placed 35th in 6:20. On the Girls’ side, Keira Ganton represented the Lions with determination, finishing 31st in 6:50.
U18 Teams Battle Tough Competition
The U18 Girls faced a challenging field in their 6km race but secured a ninth-place team finish. Leading the effort was Bridget Jeffrey, who clocked 23:44 to place 25th. Strong runs from Kyra Lauter (34th, 24:09) and Edith Petrescu-Comnene (41st, 24:33) contributed valuable points, while Maya Allibon (87th, 26:24) and Sofia Lefaivre (95th, 26:41) rounded out the team.
In the U18 Boys’ 5km race, Noah Smith led the Lions with a 24th-place finish in 19:46. He was joined by Barrett Goold (67th, 20:53) and Jackson McKercher (97th, 21:31), who put in solid efforts against a deep field.
Looking Ahead
This weekend’s championship was the penultimate event of the domestic cross country season. Focus will now shift to London, for this year’s Canadian Championships set for November 30 and 31 at Fanshawe Golf Course.
Seaby runs at NCAA Regionals
Maddie Seaby capped her second season of NCAA cross country running with a 68th place finish at the Southeast Regional in Rock Hill, SC. It was a noticeable improvement on last season’s regional performance where Seaby placed 81st. In addition to her individual success, Seaby’s performance helped her Louisville Cardinals to a seventh place finish in the team standings.