A Banner Year: Lions Roar Back to the Top in 2024

By the numbers, the 2024 season was one of the greatest in Club history. In a year where the Lions regained the title of Overall Ontario Club Champions for the first time since 2015, there was plenty to celebrate over the past 365 days – from team success to individual triumphs. From dominating provincial championships to shining on the national stage, the Lions have plenty to celebrate as they solidified their position as one of Canada’s top clubs.

Ontario Champions Once Again

After a long nine year stretch, the Lions once again recaptured the Ontario Overall Club Championship in 2024 – the Club’s 13th in the past 24 years. Led by divisional championships at the U20 and U18 level and a strong second place showing in the Open Division Championship, the Lions amassed an incredible 636.5 points to beat out the four time defending champions from London Western by over 60 points. 

This year’s point total was the lowest for a winning Lions team since the 2005 Championship, which was just a 75 point victory over London Western. 

With 144 points, the Lions clinched their 13th provincial U20 title. Led by a 14 medal haul including 4 gold, the Lions outpaced London Western by 25.5 points. 

Similarly, Lions athletes won 14 medals in the U18 category on the way to the divisional title. An impressive eight gold medal haul led the way for the Lions as they edged out London Western by 14 and ⅓ points to claim their ninth divisional title since 2000.

Remarkably, it was the senior category that produced the most medals for the Lions, as they won a total of 17 – highlighted by an impressive 9 gold. However, the gold rush was not enough to beat back Royal City AC who took home the banner with 191 points – 12 clear of the Lions.

A Medal Haul to Remember

Throughout 2024, Lions’ athletes delivered remarkable performances that translated into a staggering 204 medal haul across all provincial, national, and international level competitions. This was the third highest annual total in Club history behind 2008 (246) and 2009 (234).

Lions athletes captured the majority of their medals (53) at the various Athletics Ontario Outdoor age class championships. Among this haul were an impressive 22 gold medals. This year’s medal count brings the Club’s total count over its 50 year history to over 1800 Athletics Ontario Outdoor Championship medals.

Masters athletes made a large contribution to this year’s medal total with an incredible 66 medals won at the provincial, national, and international level. An impressive haul of 24 medals were captured at the Canadian Masters Indoor Championship back in March.

Spotlight on Individual Performances

A larger driver behind the masters total was Wendy Alexis, who in 2024 continued to show why she’s one of the best in the world – capturing an impressive 13 medals—12 of them gold. She dominated the international Masters circuit, earning gold in the W65 100m and 200m at the Pan Am Masters Games before taking home 100m gold and 200m silver at the World Masters Athletics Championship. 

Alexis was undefeated domestically winning a total of nine gold medals this season between indoor and outdoor Ontario and Canadian Masters Championships. Wendy’s achievements continue to be a shining example for all the other athletes within the Club.

On the men’s side, 17-year-old Zachary Jeggo was the most decorated athlete in 2024 – adding an incredible 10 medals at the provincial and national level. The Louis-Riel student showed he can punch above his weight taking home an impressive three medals from the Canadian U20 Championship led by 400 metre hurdle and 4×400 relay silver. 

However, it was at the Canadian U18 Championships where the multiple Club record holder triumphed. Jeggo took home gold in the 400 metre hurdles in a Championship record time as well as silvers in both the flat 400 and the 4×400 relay events. To show some range, he added 4×100 bronze as well.

In addition to Zachary Jeggo’s record setting times in 2024, he also had added 10 medals to the Lions’ tally across provincial and national competitions. At the Canadian U20 Championships, Jeggo clinched a pair of silvers in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay, as well as bronze in the 400m. He also triumphed at the Canadian U18 Championships with gold in the 400m hurdles, silver in the 400m and 4x400m relay, and bronze in the 4x100m relay. Jeggo became the first athlete in Club history to ever win four medals at a single Canadian U18 Championship.

Celebrating the Lions’ Legacy

The 2024 season has been a year to remember for the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club. This year’s achievements are a testament to the strength of our community, the hard work of the athletes, and the unwavering support of our coaches and staff. As we get set to welcome the country to Ottawa for the 2025 Canadian Track and Field Championships, we look forward to another year of raising the bar and inspiring the next generation of track and field stars in the nation’s capital.

2024 Medal Winners