(Ottawa, Canada---09 May 2026) David Moulongou competes in the Ottawa Spring Kick Start at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

Copyright 2026 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images.

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Moulongou Continues Record-Breaking Run as Lions Shine Across North America and Europe

OTTAWA — David Moulongou continued his sensational start to the outdoor season last weekend, breaking the Ottawa Lions club record in the men’s 400-metre hurdles for the second consecutive week while adding another personal best less than 24 hours later.

Competing Saturday afternoon at the Rose City Open in Windsor, Moulongou stormed to victory in the 400-metre hurdles in a meet record 50.36 seconds. The performance lowered the club record of 50.92 that he had set just one week earlier at the Ottawa Spring Kick Start and now ranks the University of Ottawa athlete 17th all-time in Canadian history.

Moulongou returned to competition the following day at the Hamilton Season Opener, where he placed second in the open men’s 400 metres in a personal best 47.31 seconds. The mark moved him to 11th on the Ottawa Lions all-time list in the event and continued a breakthrough stretch for the 23-year-old hurdler ahead of next month’s Canadian Track and Field Championships in Ottawa.

Another standout performance came Wednesday in Italy, where reigning Canadian champion Maëliss Trapeau opened her outdoor campaign with one of the strongest races of her career at the 15th Savona International Meeting.

Trapeau finished third in a tightly contested 800 metres with a time of 2:00.39, finishing just behind Mauritius’ Rachel Klopfenstein (1:59.82) and Ethiopia’s Samrawit Mulugeta (2:00.18). The performance marked the fastest outdoor season opener of Trapeau’s career and provides an encouraging early benchmark as she prepares to defend her national title next month in front of a hometown crowd at the Canadian Championships while pursuing qualification for the Commonwealth Games.

In Hamilton, Saul Taler delivered an impressive debut over 5,000 metres. Racing for only the second time since competing at the World Cross Country Championships in January, the Queen’s University student clocked 14:51.52 to place sixth on the club’s all-time U20 rankings. The performance also surpassed the qualifying standard for the Canadian Championships and currently ranks Taler fifth nationally among in the U20 category this season.

The Hamilton meet also saw strong performances from several Lions middle-distance athletes. Jocelyn Giannotti dropped more than eight seconds from her personal best in the women’s 3000 metres, finishing fourth in 10:04.39. Elizabeth Vroom followed in 13th place in 10:28.97. Nicolas Belan ran 1:54.64 to place fourth in the men’s 800 metres.

At the Crépuscule Saint-Laurent Select meet in Québec, James Compeau ran a lifetime best 48.46 in the men’s 400 metres to lead a Lions 1-2 finish alongside Luca Nicoletti, who followed closely in 48.86. André Alie-Lamarche earned victory in the men’s 1500 metres in 3:55.21, while Max Wilson was sixth in 4:01.28.

Updated Club rankings can be found at https://rankings.ottawalions.com

(Ottawa, Canada---14 May 2025) Jorai Matthea Oppong-Nketiah of Louis-Riel - Ottawa competes at the NCSSAA East Conference Track and Field Championships. Photograph Copyright 2025 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images.

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Meet Records, Sprint Sweeps Highlight Lions Showing at East Conference Championships

Ottawa Lions athletes delivered a number of commanding performances at last Thursday’s NCSSAA East Conference Championships at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Among the highlights were more than 120 personal bests and multiple championship records rewritten throughout the day.

Louis-Riel’s Jorai Oppong-Nketiah not only claimed double gold in the senior girls sprints, but also set a pair of meet records in the process. The University of Kentucky-bound senior captured the 100 metres in 11.92, lowering her own championship record by four hundredths of a second. She later added the 200-metre title after running a meet-record 24.75 in the preliminaries before crossing the line in 25.73 in the final.

Classmate Ayoub Shangai completed the rare sprint treble in the senior boys division, winning the 100 metres in 10.92, the 200 metres in 22.13, and the 400 metres in 50.45. Like Oppong-Nketiah, Shangai’s top 200-metre performance came in the preliminaries, where he posted a personal-best 21.66 — narrowly missing Olympian Segun Makinde’s meet record of 21.62 set in 2009.

Continuing the Louis-Riel success into the field events, Grade 11 student Mallea McMullin dominated the senior girls javelin, launching the 600-gram implement 42.00 metres — more than 10 metres clear of the field and just 20 centimetres shy of the meet record set in 1981. McMullin also topped the discus standings with a throw of 28.14 metres to secure her second gold medal of the day.

St. Francis Xavier’s Shannon Dewar earned a pair of victories in the senior girls middle-distance events, taking the 400 metres in 59.18 before adding the 800-metre title in 2:23.34.

In the junior girls distance events, Glebe’s Reve McInnes swept all three races, winning the 800 metres (2:38.06), 1500 metres (5:08.53), and 3000 metres (11:10.96).

Hillcrest’s Emily Munro added another distance double for the Lions in the senior girls category, winning both the 1500 metres in 4:58.54 and the 3000 metres in 10:44.28.

Glebe’s Anabelle Muir led the way in the junior girls hurdles events, capturing the 80-metre hurdles title in 13.48 before winning the 300-metre hurdles in 50.22. Earlier this spring, Muir also established a new East Conference record in the pole vault after clearing 3.46 metres at a pre-season competition.

Staying in the field events, Garneau’s Maxime Cazabon put together a strong multi-event performance in the junior boys division. Cazabon tied for top spot in the high jump after clearing 1.80 metres and captured the triple jump title with a personal-best leap of 13.27 metres.

The novice girls division featured a standout performance from Glebe’s Roan Gerth, who completed a unique triple by winning the 1500 metres in 5:10.96, the 3000 metres in 11:45.74, and the 300-metre hurdles in 49.17 — narrowly missing the 32-year-old meet record of 48.89. Her combination of endurance and hurdling ability could make her a natural fit for the steeplechase in the years ahead.

In the novice boys sprints, Mer Bleue’s William Lussier swept the 100 metres (11.62), 200 metres (24.14), and 400 metres (57.02).

Osgoode’s Dylan Deboer added another meet record to the Lions tally in the intellectually impaired 100 metres, trimming 14 hundredths off his own championship standard from last season in a winning time of 13.75.

(Ottawa, Canada---07 May 2026) Claydon St John runs the 800m at the National Capital High School Track and Field Invitational. Photograph Copyright 2026 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images.

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Lions Athletes Shine Through Tough Conditions at West Conference Championships

OTTAWA — Cold temperatures, rain and swirling winds made for less-than-ideal conditions Wednesday at the NCSSAA West Conference Championships at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility, but Ottawa Lions athletes still delivered a series of standout performances across the track and field events.

From the sprints to the distance races and field events, Lions athletes combined for numerous individual titles and several multi-event victories as the road to OFSAA officially got underway.

Among the day’s top performances was a dominant triple victory from John McCrae’s Jake Claydon-St. John in the novice boys division. The Grade 9 student captured the 400 metres in 55.51, returned to win the 800 metres in 2:12.55, and later closed out his afternoon with a victory in the 1500 metres in 4:31.22 — one of the most impressive all-around performances of the meet.

John McCrae also swept the senior distance events as Maya Allibon and Adam Yakimchuk each completed middle-distance doubles.

Allibon controlled both of her races, winning the senior girls 800 metres in 2:24.44 before returning to claim the 1500 metres in 5:03.83, taking both events by comfortable margins. Yakimchuk matched the feat on the boys side, capturing the senior 1500 metres in 4:19.71 and the 3000 metres in 9:22.10.

In the senior boys sprints, Paul-Desmarais standout Ange-Mathis Kramo cruised to victory in both of his events despite the difficult conditions. The Grade 12 student captured the 200 metres in 22.42 before adding the 400-metre title in 51.64.

All Saints student Declan McGinnity put together an impressive triple victory of his own in the junior boys division, winning the 200 metres (24.62), 400 metres (53.22) and 800 metres (2:22.21).

Holy Trinity’s Teagan Casselman led the way in the senior girls sprints, sweeping the 100 metres (13.14), 200 metres (27.37) and 100-metre hurdles (18.26).

Teammate Norah Nitta Mackay picked up victories in both the 400 metres and 400-metre hurdles, clocking 58.98 and 1:10.78 respectively.

In the field events, Sir Robert Borden’s Roxy Gardiner claimed a trio of titles as she dominated the jumps competition. The first-year senior athlete won both the long jump (5.16m) and triple jump (10.73m), while also sharing top spot in the high jump at 1.40 metres.

Eli Mordel also had a strong day for the Borden Bengals, winning the senior boys 110-metre hurdles in 15.65 and adding a silver medal in the long jump with a leap of 5.90 metres. Results from earlier season competitions were used to determine the pole vault standings, where Mordel’s 4.60-metre clearance was credited as a new meet record.

The novice girls sprint events saw Sacred Heart’s Michelle Nalwoga sweep both the 100 metres (14.14) and 200 metres (28.45), while Nepean’s Sasha Stephenson claimed victories in both hurdle events, winning the 80-metre hurdles in 14.16 and the 300-metre hurdles in 51.18.

Full meet results are available at Ottawa Lions Results Page

(Ottawa, Canada---09 May 2026) David Moulongou competing at the Ottawa Spring klick Start.  2026 Brian Rouble / Mundo Sport Images.

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Moulongou Breaks 36-Year-Old Club Record at Ottawa Spring Kick Start

OTTAWA — The outdoor track and field season officially opened in the capital last weekend as the Ottawa Lions hosted the Ottawa Spring Kick Start at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility, highlighted by a record-breaking performance from hurdler David Moulongou.

The University of Ottawa student delivered the standout performance of the meet in the men’s 400-metre hurdles, storming to victory in 50.93 to break Craig Hutton’s 36-year-old club record of 51.02 set in 1990. Moulongou controlled the race from the opening strides and crossed the line nearly four seconds ahead of Speed Academy’s Elijah Jones.

The performance marked the first time a Lions athlete had dipped under 51 seconds in the event and set the tone for Moulongou heading into next month’s Canadian Track and Field Championships in Ottawa.

Another breakthrough came in the men’s pole vault where high school senior Eli Mordel cleared 4.60 metres on his first attempt, adding 15 centimetres to his previous personal best. The future York University student also demonstrated his growing sprint speed, clocking a personal best 11.29 seconds in the 100-metre preliminaries.

Sixteen-year-old Anabelle Muir also turned heads over the weekend. Fresh off a Canadian U18-leading clearance of 3.45 metres earlier in the week, Muir sprinted to a massive personal best of 12.34 seconds to place second in the women’s 100-metre final.

Muir helped lead an Ottawa Lions sweep of the podium as Rose Basu claimed the victory in 12.21, while Paulina Procyk matched Muir’s 12.34 performance to finish third. Muir later added another victory in the pole vault, clearing 3.20 metres.

In the throws, 19-year-old Jack Mines delivered one of the top performances of his young career in the junior men’s discus. Mines launched the 1.75-kilogram implement 47.73 metres to move into fifth place all-time on the club’s U20 rankings.

Coming off a storybook indoor season, middle-distance runner Safwan El Mansari opened his outdoor campaign with a dominant victory in the men’s 800 metres, winning by nearly 12 seconds in 1:52.31.

(Ottawa, Canada---01 August 2025) Mallea McMullin competes on Day 3 of the Canadian Track and Field Championships presented by Bell at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

Copyright 2025 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images.

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Lions Athletes Rewrite the Record Books at National Capital Classic

OTTAWA — Less than a week away from the city conference championships, Lions athletes delivered a number of standout performances at the National Capital Classic Day 1 Meet. Among the highlights were a 41-year-old school record, a pair of meet records in the pole vault and a record setting performance from a two-time defending provincial champion.

Megan Paterson of Carleton Place was the story of the field events. The junior discus thrower broke a school record that had stood since 1985, launching the one kilogram disc 35.77 metres. Paterson’s winning throw also moved her to fifth on the club’s all-time U18 list and set a new meet standard. She wasn’t done there, adding a win in the javelin and silver in the shot put to show she will be ready for next week’s Lanark County Championships.

Mallea McMullin, a two-time defending OFSAA javelin champion, reinforced her status as one of the region’s premier throwers with a meet record in the senior girls javelin. The Louis-Riel standout dominated the event, launching the 600 gram javelin out to 41.84 metres to surpass the previous standard of 39.20 metres set in 2007 and finishing nearly 15 metres clear of the field. Showing her range across the throws, McMullin also captured gold in the discus.

Emerging star Anabelle Muir cleared 3.46 metres in the girls open pole vault to set a meet record and move to third on the club’s all-time U18 list. Muir’s clearance is more than a foot above last year’s junior girls OFSAA winning height. The grade 10 Glebe student also placed second in the junior girls 300 metre hurdles.

Eli Mordel of Sir Robert Borden was equally dominant in the boys open pole vault, clearing 4.20 metres to break his own meet record. The senior also won the 110 metre hurdles in a windy  14.16 seconds and took top spot in the long jump.

Roan Gerth had a day to remember in the distance and hurdles events. The grade nine Glebe student won the girls 300 metre hurdles in 49.48 seconds to set a meet record, a performance that now ranks 10th on the club’s all-time U16 list. She also won the open 2000 metre steeplechase in 7:56.39, to rank fifth all-time for club U16 athletes. Gerth finished the day off with a third-place finish in the 1500 metres.

The steeplechase was full of great performances for Lions athletes. Kai Lebel finished third in the boys event in 6:52.60 to rank second all-time among club U16 athletes. On the girls side, Keira Ganton and Anika Zahab finished fourth and fifth respectively, with their times slotting them sixth and seventh on the club’s all-time U16 list.

Roxy Gardiner of Sir Robert Borden rounded out the notable performances, placing first in the girls open triple jump with a mark of 11.13 metres that moves her to eighth on the club’s all-time U18 list. The grade 11 student also took top spot in the high jump at 1.50 metres. 

Full meet results are available on our website.

(Ottawa, Canada---11 June 2025) Elizabeth Vroom at Ottawa Summer Twilight Meet Two. Photograph Copyright 2025 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images.

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Vroom Leads Lions at Run to Empower

OTTAWA — Eyes were on the pavement last weekend as a number of Ottawa Lions runners competed at the Run to Empower event at the Central Experimental Farm. Dedicated to supporting and advancing women’s running in Canada, the event featured a pair of 5-kilometre races.

Competing in the Ottawa’s Fastest Women section, Elizabeth Vroom led the Lions contingent with a 12th-place finish in 17:19. With the performance, the Queen’s University student moved to sixth on the club’s all-time list for the distance.

Finishing five spots back was Jocelyn Giannotti, who crossed the line in 17:45.

Fellow Lion Isla Kittmer also delivered a strong performance, placing 20th overall in 18:15. The Grade 10 student was the top U20 finisher in the race and established new club records in both the U18 and U20 categories.

Another young Lion, Keira Gratton, also turned in a notable performance in the featured women’s race. The Grade 9 student from Maplewood Secondary School placed 45th overall in 19:20, moving to fourth all-time in club history among U16 athletes at the distance.

Meanwhile, in the Run to Empower 5K section, Jaiden Taft delivered a 28-second personal best to finish fifth overall in 17:10. The performance moves Taft to fourth on the club’s all-time U16 boys rankings.

Down the 401 in Toronto, Zoe Gardiner was the second woman across the line at the Toronto Half-Marathon. The University of Ottawa medical student made a strong debut at the distance, crossing the finish line in 1:20:45 — just 1:34 behind race winner Kathleen Devine of Toronto.

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Ottawa Lions to Hold Special Meeting on May 25

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club will hold a special meeting on Monday, May 25, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. (ET), conducted virtually via Google Meet.

The purpose of the meeting is to review and approve the club’s financial statements from the 2024-2025 fiscal year and to vote on the appointment of new members to the Board of Directors.

Further details, including the financial documents and a list of proposed board nominees, will be shared with members in advance of the meeting.

Members wishing to attend can join using the following link.

All members are encouraged to attend and participate in the governance of the club.

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Gale Leads Canada to Bronze at World Relays in Gaborone

GABORONE, Botswana — Lauren Gale delivered a standout performance on the world stage Sunday, helping Canada capture bronze in the women’s 4×400-metre relay at the World Athletics Relays.

The Canadian quartet crossed the line in 3:22.66, the fifth-fastest time in national history, behind Norway’s world-leading 3:20.96 and Spain, which finished second.

Running the second leg, Gale once again proved pivotal. After clocking 50.14 in Saturday’s preliminary round, the two-time Olympian returned with a 50.17 split in the final — the fastest of the Canadian squad. She surged to the front early in her leg and controlled the race through much of the backstretch before a late charge from a tightly packed field, including sub-50 efforts from Norway, Great Britain & Northern Ireland, and the Netherlands, shifted the order in the closing metres.

Still, the result marked a significant milestone for both Gale and the Ottawa Lions program.

“It’s a crazy feeling,” Gale said following the race. “I’m very proud to have ‘World medalist’ on my resume now.”

The medal makes Gale just the fourth athlete in club history to reach the podium at a World Athletics Championship, joining a distinguished group that includes Ann Peel, Glenroy Gilbert, and Melissa Bishop-Nriagu.

Canada’s bronze continues a run of success in the event, following another third-place finish at the 2024 World Relays. Sunday’s performance also edges Canada closer to the elusive national record of 3:21.21, set at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

For Gale, Sunday’s result reflects both the progression and potential of the relay program.

“I think we were all healthy and really ready to run fast,” she said of the team’s performance on Sunday. “We had a goal and we wanted it. We have a great team and don’t get to run together super often, so when we do and we perform well, it’s a great feeling.”

Canadian head coach Glenroy Gilbert, who is also Gale’s personal coach, pointed to a noticeable shift in her approach this season.

“She’s running with a bit more hunger and desire to really break out of that sub-51 range and get more consistent in the low 50s,” Gilbert said from Botswana. “You’re seeing somebody who’s finding her way.”

That upward trajectory was evident throughout the weekend. Despite coming off a demanding training block, Gale backed up her preliminary effort with another strong run in the final.

“My confidence is definitely up,” Gale added. “I would have loved to see [my split] drop under 50 seconds, but it’s only May. Hopefully that will come.”

With a world championship medal now secured and momentum on her side, Gale’s performance in Gaborone offers a glimpse of what could be in store as the season progresses, with June’s national championships in Ottawa and the Commonwealth Games in Scotland ahead.

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Jeggo, Gale Set for World Relays as Lions Represent Canada in Botswana

GABORONE, Botswana — Two Ottawa Lions athletes will represent Canada on the global stage this weekend as Zachary Jeggo and Lauren Gale are in Botswana with Team Canada for the World Athletics Relays.

The two-day competition, which begins Saturday, serves as a key qualification meet for both this year’s World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest and the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.

Jeggo enters the championships in the midst of a breakthrough 2026 campaign. The Simon Fraser freshman set a Canadian U20 indoor record of 46.72 seconds over 400 metres earlier this year and followed it up with a seasonal best of 46.97 outdoors two weeks ago at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California.

Making his senior national team debut, Jeggo is one of men vying for two spots on Canada’s mixed 4×400-metre relay squad. He is joined by Alberta’s Ryder Ratee, who won the Canadian U20 title ahead of Jeggo last summer in Ottawa, and British Columbia’s Nathan George, the 2025 Canadian senior silver medallist.

Gale, meanwhile, returns as a key member of Canada’s women’s 4×400-metre relay pool. The Ottawa Lions standout brief outdoor season already includes a victory in Miami and a seasonal best of 51.24 seconds.

A veteran of multiple global relay teams, Gale competed at last year’s World Relays in Guangzhou, China, where she was a critical member of Canada’s efforts in both the women’s and mixed 4×400-metre events. She helped the mixed relay squad secure World Athletics Championships qualification in the second round and was part of the team that placed seventh in the women’s 4×400-metre final.

That experience has helped shape her role within Canada’s relay program.

“I’ve learned what Team Canada looks for in terms of handoffs, race execution and working as a team,” Gale said when she was named to the team in April. “Relays make it feel more like a team sport, and you learn what works best for the group.”

With several new faces in the relay pool this season, Gale also sees herself stepping into a more prominent role.

“It’s weird to think I’m a veteran now,” she said. “I remember being one of the youngest members on the team… and now I am the veteran, so I think I would like to contribute in any way I can to help the team.”

The stakes in Gaborone extend well beyond podium finishes. The top six teams in the mixed 4×100-metre and mixed 4×400-metre events will secure automatic qualification for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, while 12 teams in each relay discipline will advance to the 2027 World Athletics Championships.

Qualification opportunities will be available across both days of competition. The top teams from each heat will advance to the finals and secure World Championships berths, while additional places remain available through a second-round qualification race.

With global championship berths on the line, the World Relays once again provide a proving ground for the world’s top relay programs, and an opportunity for emerging athletes like Jeggo and established performers like Gale to make their mark.

Schedule (All times EST)
Saturday, May 2
8:30 AM Mixed 4x400m Qualifying Round 1
9:55 AM Women’s 4x400m Qualifying Round 1

Sunday, May 3
8:20 AM Mixed 4x400m World Ch. Qualifying Round 2
8:44 AM Women’s 4x400m World Ch. Qualifying Round 2
10:13 AM Mixed 4x400m FINAL
10:40 AM Women’s 4x400m FINAL

Watch live on CBC Gem

(Ottawa, Canada---02 August 2025) /Volunteer/ competes on Day 4 of the Canadian Track and Field Championships presented by Bell at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

Copyright 2025 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images.

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Volunteer Recruitment Underway for 2026 Canadian Track and Field Championships in Ottawa

OTTAWA — The Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club is calling on the community to be part of one of Canada’s premier sporting events, as preparations ramp up for the 2026 Canadian Track and Field Championships, set to take place June 17–21 at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

Organizers are seeking volunteers to help deliver the national championship event, which will bring together the country’s top athletes competing for national titles and international team selection.

Volunteers will play a critical role across a wide range of areas, including event operations, athlete services, and spectator support. Opportunities are available for individuals of all experience levels, with flexible shifts throughout the five-day competition.

“Hosting a national championship takes a full team effort,” said Ryan Rowat, Chair of the Local Organizing Committee. “Our volunteers are at the heart of the event — creating a welcoming environment for athletes and helping ensure everything runs smoothly from start to finish.”

The championships are expected to draw nearly 2,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from across the country, along with spectators and supporters, making it one of the largest track and field events hosted in Ottawa.

Volunteers will gain behind-the-scenes experience at a high-performance sporting event while playing an active role in delivering one of Canada’s premier track and field competitions.

Those interested in volunteering can register online at: Volunteer Sign Up