Set against the rolling fairways of Lakeridge Links Golf Course in Whitby, Lions athletes braved low single-digit temperatures and even Sunday snow flurries at this year’s Ontario Cross Country Championships. But while the conditions felt more like mid-winter golf than late-fall racing, Lions athletes spent the weekend “running under par,” producing historic results, breakthrough races, and multiple podium finishes across all age groups.
One of the Championship’s defining moments came in the Para 5km, where Jacob Gauthier delivered a landmark performance, becoming the first athlete ever to win an Ontario Para Cross Country title. The visually impaired runner dominated from the gun, crossing in 20:33, more than two minutes clear of the field—a historic achievement for both the Club and the championship.
Before Gauthier’s victory, the pace was set for the Lions early on Saturday with a commanding win from Ronan Lebel, who stormed to the U12 Boys title by an impressive 19 seconds in 7:49. The victory marked his third Ontario gold in four years, adding to his U10 triumphs in 2022 and 2023, and returning him to the top of the podium after last season’s bronze.
In the U20 Men’s 8km, Queen’s University freshman Saul Taler signalled a return to top form, powering to second place in 28:12, just five seconds behind champion Oliver Crowe of Edge Sport Track Club. Taler’s rookie cross country season with the Gaels was cut short due to a mid-season infection. The Glebe Collegiate graduate’s result on Saturday is the second provincial silver of his career, following a U16 podium in 2022, and signals a strong trajectory as he prepares for the Canadian Championships at the end of the month.
The Masters contingent added to Saturday’s medal haul with an excellent set of performances. Sam Shi earned silver in the M30 division, while Liz Maguire successfully defended her W55 provincial title, and Barbara Saville added a bronze in the W60 category. The two women teamed up with Kim Howitt and Nathalie Côté to capture the W40 team championship, scoring 293 points to win by a commanding 62-point margin over Toronto West.
Showing their depth, the Lions’ U16 squads delivered matching silver medals in both the girls and boys races. The U16 Girls, one of the Club’s most consistent squads in recent memory, extended their remarkable streak with a fourth consecutive podium finish, compiling 84 points—just one point shy of gold. Isla Kittmer led the group with an eighth-place finish (16:18), with tight packing from Charlie Fee, Charlotte Eccles, and Alexandra Harris closing out the scoring. Similarly, the U16 Boys delivered a determined effort to secure team silver, scoring 82 points to finish behind the Durham Dragons. Oscar Lorrain placed fifth (13:47) to lead the charge, supported by strong runs from Graeme Siderius, Rowan Blaine, and Jaiden Taft. The result marks the Club’s first U16 Boys medal since 2022 and only the seventh podium finish in Club history in the category.
Two strong U18 performances added to Sunday’s results, with Charlie Mortimer and Kyra Lauter each turning in impressive performances. Mortimer, coming off a fifth place finish at the recent OFSAA Cross Country Championships, placed 6th in 20:23 – a second out of another top-five finish. Lauter had a strong performance in the girls race, placing 12th in 24:06, three spots better than her OFSAA finish.
With individual brilliance, team depth, and historic firsts spread across the championship program, the Lions leave Whitby with significant momentum heading into the closing chapter of the season. The Club now turns its attention to the Canadian Cross Country Championships, taking place the final weekend of the month in London where Lions athletes will look to carry their provincial success onto the national stage.