What a weekend in Boston it was for the Ottawa Lions family. Competing against elite NCAA fields at Boston College, Boston University, and Harvard on Friday and Saturday, the Pride rose to the occasion, amassing an impressive 17-medal haul, including eight golds. Over the two days of competition, athletes achieved an incredible 27 personal bests.
Lauren Gale stole the show on the track, securing victories in all three of her events and reaffirming her status as one of Canada’s top sprinters. Her 400-metre performance was the highlight of the weekend—at the Boston University Scarlet and White Invitational on Saturday, the two-time Olympian dominated the field, stopping the clock in 51.79 seconds. The time currently ranks 12th in the world this year.
Gale also showcased her range the day before at Boston College’s Showdown at the Heights, sprinting to gold in the 200m in 23.39 seconds—the second-fastest time by a Canadian this season and the fourth-fastest of her career. She capped off her triple-gold weekend with a 7.50-second victory in the 60m, finishing just 0.04 seconds off her personal best.
Stephan Balson made a statement of his own, delivering personal bests in all three of his events while climbing the Ottawa Lions’ U20 all-time rankings. The Saint Kitts and Nevis international shined in the 400 metres, setting a lifetime best of 47.78 seconds. His time now ranks 16th in the world this year among U20 athletes and fifth on the Club’s U20 all-time list.
Competing at Boston College the day before, Balson’s form was equally impressive. He blazed to 6.83 seconds in the 60m, making him the third-fastest U20 athlete in Club history. In the 200m, he carried that momentum into a 21.64-second finish, securing ninth place on the all-time list. With each race, Balson continues to prove he has the speed, range, and potential to compete at the highest levels.
Stephan Balson wasn’t the only Ottawa Lion to shine in the 400m this weekend. He was one of seven athletes to break the 50-second barrier, a testament to the club’s strength in the event. Joining him with new lifetime bests were Ange-Mathis Kramo (49.24), James Compeau (49.29), and Safwan El Mansari (49.44). This success carried over to the University of Ottawa’s 4x400m squad, as Joel Gurnsey, El Mansari, William Harris, and David Moulongou combined for a time of 3:16.42—the third-fastest in Gee-Gees history and the school’s fastest since 2013.
Elizabeth Vroom and Jessica Gyamfi also etched their names into the Ottawa Lions record books. Vroom, competing for Queen’s University, claimed gold in the mile at the Showdown at the Heights, clocking 4:49.26, a time that now ranks seventh-fastest in Club history. Meanwhile, Gyamfi continued her dominance in the shot put, winning the event with a personal-best throw of 13.85 metres—breaking her own University of Ottawa school record set just a week earlier. The mark also moves her up to eighth on the Club’s all-time list.
Kyle Waldrum and Liam Davis left their mark at the Windsor Team Challenge, delivering standout performances that reshaped the Ottawa Lions’ all-time rankings. Waldrum, a freshman at the University of Guelph, put together three lifetime bests en route to a heptathlon total of 4,544 points, a score that now ranks ninth in Club history. His Gryphons teammate Liam Davis also had a career-best showing in the shot put, launching a throw of 15.23 metres—good for 10th all-time in Club history and ninth nationally on the U SPORTS qualifying list. Davis wrapped up his weekend with a silver medal in the weight throw, reaching 16.20 metres, just a week after securing his automatic U SPORTS qualifying mark in the event.
With momentum on their side, the Ottawa Lions and their varsity programs now turn their focus to the final stretch of the indoor season. This weekend, they’ll have the opportunity to build on their success as they host the Ravens Last Chance Meet at the Louis-Riel Dome. Set for Friday evening and Saturday, the meet will serve as a key tune-up ahead of upcoming conference and national championships, providing athletes with one last chance to sharpen their performances and chase qualifying standards.
Full results from last weekend are available on our results page.
Updated Club Rankings are available at https://milesrowat.shinyapps.io/ottl_rankings/