Maxime Cazabon delivered a dominant performance at the Athletics Ontario U16 & U20 Indoor Championships last weekend, securing two gold medals and two bronze medals to lead the Ottawa Lions at the provincial meet.
Cazabon, a rising star in Canadian athletics, completed the rare 60-meter and high jump double. The Grade 9 student at Garneau High School opened the meet with a new club U16 record of 7.20 seconds in the heats of the 60m (breaking the previous record of 7.24 set by Toluwalope Makinde in 2008) before quickly transitioning into high jump mode. He cleared 1.84 meters to comfortably take the top spot. After a brief recovery, Cazabon returned to the track, clinching gold in the 60-meter final with a time of 7.23 seconds — the second-fastest of his career.
Despite his two gold medals in a matter of hours, Cazabon wasn’t done. In his first-ever triple jump competition, he leaped to a silver medal-winning distance of 12.57 meters. Between his six jumps, Cazabon also found time to win bronze in the 300-meter event with a time of 37.75 seconds. A standout on the volleyball court as well, Cazabon’s multi-sport versatility suggests he may soon be competing in combined events, given his impressive all-around performances.
Balqis Chouikhi continued her strong form in the women’s pole vault, securing silver in the U20 division with a 3.35-meter clearance. This result mirrored her silver at last month’s senior women’s provincial championships, further highlighting her consistency across age groups.
Eli Mordel also impressed with a personal best of 4.25 meters in the U20 men’s pole vault, earning bronze and moving to No. 2 on the club’s U18 all-time list. This performance marks a significant step forward for the young vaulter as he climbs the national rankings.
“The club is incredibly proud of all our athletes who competed last weekend in Toronto,” said Club Head Coach Richard Johnston. “Their hard work and dedication were on full display, and it’s great to see their efforts rewarded on the podium.”
The Athletics Ontario U16 & U20 Indoor Championships brought together the province’s top young track and field talents, providing a competitive platform for emerging athletes. For Cazabon and his teammates, the event served as both a stepping stone towards the Canadian Indoor Championships later this month and the forthcoming high school season.