The World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships wrapped up this past weekend, and Ottawa Lions athletes made their presence felt on the global stage—none more so than Wendy Alexis, who celebrated her 70th birthday in unforgettable fashion.
Just two days after entering a new age category, Alexis delivered a jaw-dropping performance in the W65 200 metres preliminary round on last Thursday, clocking 30.68 seconds to set a new World Indoor Record for the W70 age group. Though entered in the W65 category—as age groups are based on the athlete’s age at the start of the championship—Alexis’ performance instantly rewrote the history books.
She wasn’t done.
Later that same day, Alexis dropped under the previous W70 record once again in the semi-finals and then sliced off another 0.35 seconds in the final, crossing the line in 30.33. Despite finishing fourth and narrowly missing a podium spot by just 0.03 seconds, Alexis left no doubt about her world-class speed. Prior to the Championships, the W70 record stood at 31.17 seconds
But Alexis’ crowning moment may have come in the relays, where she anchored Canada’s W65 4x200m team to a World Record. The team finished in 2:07.42, obliterating the previous mark of 2:09.74 and winning by nearly 10 seconds over the United States.
“Didn’t just break it — SMASHED IT! By 2.50 seconds,” Alexis shared via email about the team’s record setting run. “I was the anchor and I’m sure that was the fastest 200 I’ve ever run. I was flying! We all were! This has been a freakin’ amazing meet for me. I felt as if I could run down anybody!”
Alexis also helped Canada to silver in the mixed 4x200m relay, leading off a team that finished in 2:03.14, behind the USA’s 2:01.53.
“Back home tomorrow,” she added. “As exciting as this has been (huge adrenaline rush daily), I’m looking forward to some quieter time.”
Meanwhile, Liz Maguire continued her impressive form, picking up silver in the W55 1500m on Saturday. Her time of 4:59.48 was not only her fastest of the season but also her quickest since 2017. The race was won by Michelle Rohl of the USA, who set a championship record of 4:50.34. The result mirrored last year’s outdoor world championships, where Maguire also finished second behind Rohl.
Several other Ottawa Lions athletes were in action:
- Michael Conway ran a personal best of 53.40 in the M40 400m, finishing 11th overall.
- Mike McInerney placed 14th in the M55 1500m with a time of 4:58.10.
- Lawrence Williams clocked 25.87 in the M50 200m, finishing 19th—just one spot shy of advancing to the semi-finals.
With multiple medals, world records, and season-best performances, the World Masters Championships proved that age is just a number—and the Lions continue to roar on the global stage.
Roy Races to First Provincial Medal
Back in Toronto, the next generation of Ottawa Lions athletes was making strides of their own at the Ontario U14 & Rising Stars Indoor Finale.
In the U14 girls 800m race walk, Penny Roy captured her first provincial medal, earning silver with a time of 5:09.27. The performance marked a significant improvement from her previous best, set earlier this month at the Quebec Indoor Championships, and capped off a strong indoor season for the young athlete.