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Lions Top 10 OFSAA Performers: #8 Murray Link (1992-1996)

by High Schoollinkinbio

On day three of our countdown of the Club’s best OFSAA track and field competitors of all-time, we turn to the distance events and North Dundas’ Murray Link at number 8. The Winchester product was a dominating force during his high school career, capturing an impressive 10 OFSAA medals including 4 gold over his five yer high school career.

The medal haul was on from the word “go” for Link who burst on the scene with a trio of medals in his grade nine year, including pulling off the 1500/3000 metre double. In addition to his longer distance prowess, Link also showed his range his he collected a bronze in the 800m in a swift 2:01.

This would mark the only year where Link would attempt the distance triple. Those familiar with the OFSAA schedule understand the difficulty that presents with 1500 metre races on Thursday and Friday followed by heats and finals for the 800 metres and a 3000 metre final on the Saturday.

Grade 10 added two more medals to Link’s collection and was also the first example of the tri-battle that would play out over the coming years between himself and other future national team members Jay Cantin and Matt Kerr. The trio all broke the four minutue barrier for 1500 metres with Link taking bronze. A day later, Link was able to move up a spot over 800 metres, taking silver behind Cantin in 1:58.68.

A year later, Link would get back on top of the podium with a return to the 3000 metres, winning a tight fought battle over Rob Krar and Kevin Peirobon in 8:44.20. However, at 1500 metres Cantin had the upper hand, winning 3:55.07 to 3:57.16 over Link to complete the 8/15 double.

After another bronze at 800 in grade 12, Link returned for his OAC year to capture his third gold at 3000 metres, winning by over three seconds in 8:22.32. At 1500 metres, it was another battle between Cantin and Link, with the St. Claire Secondary School student coming out on top again with Link winning silver in 3:49.79, two seconds behind the victor.

After a standout high school career, Link accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of Arkansas where he would help the Razorbacks capture nine NCAA team titles. In addition to his team success in Fayetteville, Link was also seven-time All-American in Cross Country, Indoor, and Outdoor Track, capturing three NCAA medals along the way.

Despite retiring from competitive running following his collegiate career in 2001, Link’s performances still rank among the Club’s top ten all-time at 1000, 3000, 5000, and 10,000 metres. While he’s not running, you can still find Murray around the track as his son Jack runs with the Aspire Program.

We’ll be back again tomorrow with number seven on our list. Stay tuned.

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COVID-19 UPDATE May 29th

by COVID

Dear Members,

With the combined efforts of the Track and Field community we have reached another pinnacle step for our return to play.

As you are aware, we are in a very fluid situation and we have a long road ahead in order to return to normal.

On Friday May 29th, Athletics Canada released their recommendations (Back on Track) for member clubs, athletes and coaches to follow as we continue to navigate through the next stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before and after reading the guidelines, it must be emphasized that each province is in a very different state and our respective municipality will also be taking its own precautions to mitigate the risk of a future spike in COVID-19 cases.

It is with the “Back on Track” recommendations, Athletics Ontario’s addendum and the consistent work with the City of Ottawa that we continue to asses our current operations and plan our staggered return to programming.

At this time, I ask all members and partnered programs to refer to the links below for a forecast of what is coming. Please keep a close eye on the Ottawa Lions website & social media outlets for an announcement on the club’s policy and plans to return to official practices.

For now, training is to continue individually or in a small group (5 or less) capacity until further notice.

Athletics Canada “Back on Track”
Athletics Ontario “Return to Play Update”

Keep safe and healthy, do not hesitate to visit any of these helpful COVID-19 resources:

Public Health Agency of Canada
Province of Ontario Resource Page
City of Ottawa Resource Page
Ottawa Public Health

Sincerely,

Richard Johnston
Acting Executive Director

Keira High School2

Lions Top 10 OFSAA Performers: #9 Keira Christie-Galloway (2014-2017)

by High Schoollinkinbio

At number nine on our all-time list, we stay within the sprint hurdle family and go with Canadian under-20 record holder Keira-Christie Galloway. The hurdling superstar represented both the Tigers of St. Matthews and the Gryphons from the Glebe during a high school career that included a six medal haul at the provincial high school championships.

While she is best known for her prowess in the hurdles, Christie-Galloway actually captured her first OFSAA medal in the long jump. As a grade nine student at St. Matthews, the 15 year old had found her way to the top of the standings after her fifth round jump, leading on a count back. Unfortunately, the athlete she had just leap frogged would immediately respond with a leap that stretched the measuring tape out two centimetres further to leave Christie-Galloway with silver.

While she looked poised to add another medal to the haul later that same day in the 80 metre hurdles, a trip over one of the final sticks left Keira out of the medals in seventh. However, that occasion would mark the last time she would lose a high school hurdles competition.

Returning to OFSAA in grade ten, Christie-Galloway came back with a vengeance, repeating her silver in the long jump, and taking out Jessica Zelinka’s 17 year old OFSAA record in the junior girls 80 metre hurdles with an impressive time of 11.24 seconds. Christie-Galloway’s gold medal run was so dominating that she crossed the line more than a half second clear of her nearest competitor.

The record breaking would continue again in grade 11 as Keira erased another Canadian track icon’s name from the record books. This time it was former World Champion Perdita Felicien’s OFSAA senior girls record of 13.41 seconds set in 1998 that would fall. Kristie-Galloway made quick of the record, taking it down in the heats by crossing the line in 13.33 seconds. In the final, a headwind helped keep the record from falling again, but Keira was still golden on the day, winning in 13.57 seconds of Brittany Stennekes of Dundas Valley. Stennekes would get revenge the next day by taking the long jump title and relegating Christie-Galloway to her third straight silver in the event.

For her grade 12 year, Christie-Galloway had switched schools to Glebe Collegiate where she focused her efforts solely on the hurdles at OFSAA despite qualifying in both the 100 and 200 metre events as well. Despite a tight battle with future national team teammate Kendra Leger, Christie-Galloway finished her high school career with a third straight sprint hurdles title, winning in a time of 13.53 seconds.

Since graduating from Glebe, Keira has continued to improve and flourish in the hurdles, including breaking a 30 year old Canadian U20 record, earning All-American honours, and donning the red and white at two global championships and the Pan Am Games. Prior to the global shut down stemming from COVID-19, Christie-Galloway was studying at Arizona State University in Tempe and preparing for a run at the Olympic Games.

Check back in again tomorrow as we announce number eight on our list of the Top 10 OFSAA Performers in Club history.

(Kitchener, Canada---07 June 1996) Left to right, Jeff Keays (2nd) and J Hollingsworth (1st) racing in the junior boys 110m hurdles at the 1996 OFSAA Ontario High School Track and Field Championships. Photo 1996 Copyright Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images.

Lions Top 10 OFSAA Peformers: #10 Jeff Keays (1993-97)

by High Schoollinkinbio

Today would have marked the start of the OFSAA East Regional competition where athletes from across Eastern Ontario battle for a top four spot and a berth in the OFSAA Track and Field Championships. In light of the cancelled high school season, we thought it would be fun to construct our own Top 10 list of OFSAA competitors from Club History. Since current coach, Leslie Estwick, captured the Club’s first OFSAA medal with junior high jump bronze in 1978, Lions’ athletes have gone on to capture more than 500 medals and numerous records at the high school championship.

Kicking off our list at number ten is Jeff Keays who competed in high school for both Thousand Islands Secondary School in Brockville and Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute between 1993 and 1997. After not medaling in either grades nine or ten, Keays began ratcheting up the performances in grade 11 as he took silver in the junior boys 110 metre hurdles while at TISS. A year later, and running for SFDCI, Keays again found himself in the junior boys 110m hurdle final. Looking to avenge the previous year’s result, Keays crossed the line in 14.13 seconds to break the previous OFSAA record. Unfortunately for Keays, he was lined up beside Parkside Collegiate’s Jamie Hollingsworth, who also beat the previous mark in 14.10 seconds, and left Keays with a second silver.

In Keays’ final year of competition, he got his revenge on Hollingsworth and broke some records in the process. At the East Regional competition in Ottawa, Keays became the first Canadian high schooler to crack the 14 second barrier in the 110 metre hurdles, clinching his spot at OFSAA with a time of 13.95 seconds. The Interscholastic Record had previously belonged to former Lion Steve Yorsten. It is worthwhile to note that at that time, the senior aged athletes were competing over the 39 inch hurdles.

A week later at the OFSAA Championships in Kitchener, Keays appeared primed to lower his new Canadian record even further, but unfortunately Mother Nature was less than agreeable. In the heats, Keays dominated the field, running a new OFSAA record of 13.99 seconds into a nasty 4.1 m/s headwind. The conditions didn’t improve much in the final either as Keays battled a massive 7.1 m/s headwind to win in 14.15 seconds. To give perspective to the condition Keays was in, he came back at the Twilight meet the next Wednesday and ran a legal 13.77 seconds.

Following high school, Keays attended Washington State University on a scholarship and briefly gave bobsled a go in Calgary. He currently reisdes in Victoria where he volunteers as a coach with one of the local track clubs.

Our countdown of the Lions all-time OFSAA competitors continues tomorrow with number nine. We will reveal number one on the list on June 6 to coincide with what would have been the final day of this year’s OFSAA competition.

If you are in search of more OFSAA Track and Field memories, check out @mundosportimages on Instagram where they have been highlighting some of the all-time best performers.

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COVID-19 UPDATE May 14th

by COVID

Date: May 14th, 2020
Reference: COVID-19 Update

Dear Members,

As we continue to play our respective roles in stabilizing the spread of COVID-19 I know we all eagerly await the opportunity to be back at the track. With that being said, there are a lot of moving parts that need to come together for us to begin the post lockdown normal. We continue to see plans slowly roll out across the world and we must respect that each municipality, province, and country will have their own process during this transition out of emergency. Today the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, announced that we are heading into the next phase of easing restrictions for certain businesses and seasonal recreation/sporting activities (Track and Field included).

Our current scenario sees us maintaining unofficial training and physical activity as individuals or small groups (5 or less) in accordance with the recommendations implemented by Public Health Officials, the Province, and the City of Ottawa. With parks, greenspace, and beaches now accessible to the public and to be enjoyed for small, low-key activities this opens the door to
include more variety and training options as we prepare for a return to play/train phase in athletics.

The recent announcement is encouraging news as I know we are all anxiously awaiting a return to training and eventually competition. Again, with that being said, not everything will happen at once. Ongoing discussions are taking place between the City and the Club in planning our return in a safe and appropriate manner. At this time, the City (in regards to the Terry Fox
Athletic Facility) is not prepared to open.

The Ottawa Lions are dedicated to the health and safety of its members, coaches, officials, and stakeholders. When the time comes, we will begin to phase back into our programs with the guidance and recommendations of Public Health Officials, the City, and sport experts. We will continue to communicate with our members when these steps are in place.

Please take care and continue to be supportive of each other as we head into the next period of these unprecedented times.

Sincerely,

Richard Johnston
Acting Executive Director

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Côté steps down as Club President

by Uncategorized

Date: May 13, 2020

Dear Members,

It is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation as President of the Board of Directors of the Ottawa Lions. My love for our Club and for the sport of track and field motivated me to step forward first as Vice-President of the Board of Directors, and then later as President. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served on this Board – in a short time, we’ve revised our Mission, Vision, and Values, updated our Policy on Harassment, Abuse and Sexual Misconduct, and laid the groundwork for the continued growth and strengthening of our Club.

Together, the Club, its Staff and its Members have been confronted with and overcome many challenges. Now, in these uncertain and unprecedented times, we are facing yet another challenge. I have the greatest confidence in our Members, Staff and Board of Directors to overcome this too.

Sincerely,

Nathalie Côté

(December 1, 2018 -- Canton, NY) Madison Clarke competing at the Saints Holiday Relays at the Newell Field House on the campus of St. Lawrence University.

University awards handed out

by Uncategorized

With the school year wrapping up with final exams for our university athletes, both the University of Ottawa and Carleton University announced their annual award winners.In total, seven of our athletes were recognized at their respective schools.

At the University of Ottawa, Madison Clarke was nominated for the school’s top female athlete award. While the human kinetics graduate student didn’t take home the top prize, she was named the women’s MVP for track and field after capturing All-Canadian honours in the 600 metres at the USports Championship. Clarke was the most successful Gee Gee this past season with three top five finishes at the national championships and a pair of silver medals at the OUA Championships. 

The men’s track and field MVP for the Gee Gees was second year student Kyle Sprague. The math and physics student was the top performer among the men all season, excelling in both the high jump and 300 metres. Sprague cleared a personal best 1.95 metres four times this past season, including at the OUA Championships where he placed fourth – the highest finish for a Gee Gee’s male at the Championship.

Cross Country MVP honours went to veteran leaders Nic Roberts and Rebecca Brennan. The pair of athletes were the Gee Gees lone representatives at the USports Championship last fall in Kingston. Brennan placed a career best 27th overall while Roberts was 99th. The pair were the top Gee Gees at the RSEQ Championships, where Brennan placed 8th and Roberts was 11th.

At Carleton, a trio of athletes were recognized for their success. Pippa Norman was named the team’s rookie of the year after finishing the season ranked 27th in RSEQ at 3000 metres. Norman was also the top Raven at RSEQ Cross Country.

Third year commerce student Darrell Hill was named the Raven’s most improved played for the season as he lowered his personal best for both the 1000 and 1500 metres by more than three seconds each.

Rounding out the awards, sprinter Michael Pinnock was named team MVP. The second year student was the team’s finisher in the 60 and 300 metre events at the RSEQ Championships where he placed 18th in both.

Terry Fox Aerial

New statistics page launched

by Uncategorized

Since re-designing the website last summer, one of the final remaining pieces was to port over the vast history of performances, awards, and medalists the Club had amassed over its 40 plus year history. We’re happy to report the overwhelming majority is now live on our website.

The move will hopefully allow for more frequent updating of historical performances and records as well as providing a more user friendly environment to view the information. Given the tablular nature of many of the historical performances, landscape mode will provide the best viewing experience on mobile devices.

The improved record delivery began last summer when some may have noticed the inclusion of Club, Meet and Facility records included in our posting of Twilight Meet Results. This continued over the winter with the addition of Dome and Meet records to the results during our indoor season.

We hope you’ll take the time to peruse the new information on the site to see what the athletes and coaches before you have accomplished and see where you rank among Club history. For our younger athletes, we hope the performances of your predecessors will only add fuel to your fire as you strive to become the best athlete you can.

All of this new information can be found by clicking “Statistics” in the menu or directly at ottawalions.com/awards-and-records

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April 3rd COVID-19 UPDATE

by COVID
Dear Members,
Once again, I am reaching out with an update regarding club operations and current communal status which influences our short-term and long-term plans.
The scope of the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to evolve worldwide and has a heavy impact in our community. I trust all members and their families are staying safe and supportive of each other, lending a helping hand to those who have limitations, and thankful to those who are working on the front line. Each day the updates on a municipal, provincial, and federal level continue to change with extensions to closures, additional precautions, and strategies to remain healthy and safe during this time of uncertainty.
Please stay up to date with announcements and information that is shared on the public health websites.
With the closures of specialized training facilities now extending to open city park grounds and public spaces it adds to the challenge of remaining active and consistent in training, especially with the improvement in weather that will only lure more people outdoors. As a club we advise all members to continue to follow the public health recommendations in maintaining physical distancing by staying home, communicating with friends, family, teammates, and coaches via phone or video chat.
Coaches continue to share material, training plans, and workouts that can be done on your own or at home but will not be meeting for official practices until it is safe to do so. If meeting with teammates for a run or workout they are to be in groups of 5 or less, avoid physical contact, avoid the sharing of objects, and keep a space of 2m (hockey sticks length) between each other. Send videos and pictures in to our social media platforms and we can share. Club standout, Tim Nedow has been featured getting work done at home on the official Olympic Instagram and twitter account multiple times. We can all make it happen with some creativity and consistency.
A club Strava account is active and will allow all athletes to follow along with the training of their teammates and even post challenges to stay sharp and motivated during this period of isolation. Join in!
The extension of school closures going into May will result in the cancellation of our remaining programs and events held at the Louis Riel Dome. The extension also resulted in the cancellation of all school Spring sports and championships (including OFSAA Track and Field). Given the situation we will cancel the hosting of our Outdoor High School Series (Raven Relays, uOttawa Invitational, National Capital Classic).
The start of our outdoor Spring programs will be postponed until Public Health Officials and the City of Ottawa deem it appropriate and safe to gather in groups. We have put a pause on all registration for programs taking place in the Spring and Summer (including Camps). Consideration is being taken to merge the Spring and Summer programs when and if we are capable of returning in a timely manner, however, due to the fluidity of the situation and constant changes we will provide updates on potential mergers as we approach the start dates.
The current competitive season outside the school system is uncertain. Major events world-wide have been cancelled or postponed (Olympics, Paralympics, u20 World Championships, Pan-Am Combined Events), this has also resulted in the cancellation of the u20 Canadian Championships/Tokyo Olympic Trails, Canadian Combined Events Championships, Canadian 10,000m Championships, Ottawa Marathon, World Masters, Canadian Masters, and Ontario Masters. Organizers of the Legion National (u18) Championships are currently evaluating the scenario and look to decide on whether they will take place this year or not. All Provincial events have been cancelled or postponed up to the start of June. Provincial age class Championships may be shifted to August or even early September to allow for the return and implementation of a safe and progressive training setting.
Keep up to date on the notices that affect the Track and Field world with Athletics Ontario’s COVID-19 Resource Board.
Please continue to take care of yourselves and be supportive of each other during this difficult time.
Richard Johnston
Acting Executive Director
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Lions put Olympic and Paralympic hopes on hold for one year

by Uncategorized

When the Olympic flame was extinguished above the Maracanã Stadium in August 2016 the focus of the athletics family shifted to the lighting of a new flame four years later in Tokyo. Sunday night, that focus was put on hold with the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s joint decision to not participate in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in the summer of 2020.

For the top Lion’s athletes, the reality that a four-year dream must, at least, be put on hold is certainly emotional. Two time Olympian Melissa Bishop-Nriagu told the Windsor Star, “I cried as soon as I read it, but Osi (Nriagu, her husband) and I took the night and this is so much bigger than what we’re doing right now.”

The consensus among the athletes we heard from was that it was the right decision. Three-time Paralympian Joshua Cassidy was proud of Canada taking the lead on the “best” decision. “I really appreciated the wording and intentions expressed in the release, as well as the COC Chef de Mission, Marnie McBean’s letter,” said Cassidy. “Canada took a strong lead. I believe the world will follow suit.”

The world has indeed followed suit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzō Abe announcing today the Games will indeed be postponed for one year. The decision taken by the COC and CPC in conjunction with the today’s announcement from the IOC certainly helps to put athletes’ minds at ease as they were torn between adhering to public health recommendations and trying to prepare to be their best in Tokyo.

“We didn’t know where we stood, if we had to continue training,” said Olympic finalist Farah Jacques to Radio-Canada about her situation prior to Sunday’s announcement. “The decision makes sense in that there was a risk to our health and safety.”

Bishop-Nriagu echoed her teammates sentiments, telling the Windsor Star “It’s not sports or Olympics, it’s life and death and it affects so many countries. I stand by the COC decision.”

Twice a member of Canada’s Olympic 4×100 metre relay team, Oluwasegun Makinde says that he’s supportive of the COC and its decision, “but, of course you train for four years for a special moment that only comes around for four years, so at that time, it’s tough to hear.”

Olympic shot putter Tim Nedow saw Sunday’s announcement as a ‘fait accompli’. “I kind of knew this was coming and there’s not much I can do. We’re all kind of in this together.”

With the wide swath of facility closures in the past two weeks, Nedow had been doing his best to adjust to a new reality. “When all the facilities shut down, it’s kind of hard to get out there and throw. My gym shut down too, like it should be, but luckily I have a little homemade gym right now and can get away with that,” said the Brockville native of his current training situation.

The recent rise in temperature had allowed the 2019 world finalist to get in some outdoor throwing, but Monday’s snowfall was a perfect example of how difficult that can be for this time of year in Ottawa.

“It’s a hard hit, but this is what we do, what we live for, everyday. Being our healthiest, best selves. This decision is in alignment with being our healthiest best selves,” said Joshua Cassidy of the current situation. “We take a breath, we move forward. Adapt. Be ready for what’s next. No matter when the Games are, no matter what each athlete has to deal with personally, now, or in the future… we always aim to be resilient and be ready to be our best.”