(Ottawa, Canada---12 June 2024) Youth Program athletes competing at Ottawa Summer Twilight Meet #2 at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Copyright 2024 Miles Ryan Rowat / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Bell Let’s Move! Youth Fun Fest Set for August 2 at Canadian Championships

by linkinbioLocal

The Ottawa Lions are thrilled to host the Bell Let’s Move! Youth Fun Fest as part of the 2025 Bell Canadian Track and Field Championships. Introduced at last year’s Olympic Trials, Bell Let’s Move! is a initiative aimed at promoting health and fitness by encouraging Canadian youth to get active through the sport of track and field.

The headline event of the Fun Fest will be a free Youth Pentathlon, running Saturday, August 2 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Open to kids ages 7 to 12, the pentathlon will include five fun and fast-paced events: 60m mini hurdles, 100m, 400m, long jump, and shot put.

Spots are limited and registration is required. Secure your place at:
🔗 Bell Let’s Move! Youth Fun Fest Registration

Held during the mid-day track break of the Canadian Championships, the Bell Let’s Move! Youth Fun Fest offers a unique opportunity for young athletes to get involved right on the championship track. Following the pentathlon, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., participants will be invited to a special meet-and-greet, autograph session, and Q&A with Olympians — an unforgettable chance to connect with Canada’s best.

All registered participants will receive free admission to the Saturday evening session of the Canadian Championships. Parents and guardians will also be offered a 15% discount code for general admission.

Join us in inspiring the next generation of track and field stars. Let’s get moving!

(Ottawa, Canada---11 July 2025) Sydney Smith competes in Ottawa Summer Twilight Meet #6 & CTFL Final at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Copyright 2025 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

CTFL Final Delivers World Record, Club Top-10s, and Nationals Standards

by linkinbioLocalMasters

The Canadian Track and Field League (CTFL) Final, held in conjunction with the sixth meet of Ottawa’s Summer Twilight Series on Friday night, delivered a string of standout performances, including a world record, multiple personal bests, and national championship qualifiers.

Headlining the results was once again Wendy Alexis, who continues to redefine the limits in masters sprinting. The veteran runner shattered her own world record in the W70 100 metres, clocking 14.54 seconds—an improvement on her previous mark of 14.64 set earlier this season. Alexis came heartbreakingly close to rewriting the record books two weeks ago with a 14.51 effort, only to see the wind reading come in at 2.1 m/s, just above the allowable limit. She’ll look to lower the mark even further next month at the Canadian Masters Championships in Laval, QC.

The 800 metres proved particularly fruitful for Lions athletes. Fresh off her fourth consecutive Ontario title, Sydney Smith capped off her week with a tactical win in the CTFL final, crossing the line in 2:05.09. Holding back through the early stages, Smith surged past Royal City’s Sadie-Jane Hickson over the final 200 metres to take the victory.

Sixteen-year-old Ellie McGregor continued her breakout summer with a personal best 2:09.38—nearly two seconds faster than her previous mark—to place fifth overall. She was followed closely by Brooklyn McCormick, whose 2:10.63 was just shy of the lifetime best she set the night before in Toronto (2:10.46).

On the men’s side, Safwan El Mansari finally got the breakthrough he’d been chasing all season. The University of Ottawa student chopped more than half a second off his indoor PB to clock 1:51.81, good for sixth in a tightly contested final and a move from 10th to 7th on the Club’s U20 all-time list.

Also climbing the Club rankings was Jocelyn Giannotti. The University of Guelph runner has dropped a remarkable 10.5 seconds from her 1500m personal best so far this summer, most recently stopping the clock at 4:31.75.

At even longer distances, 18-year-old Daniel Cova made an impressive debut over 5000 metres, finishing fifth in 15:02.13. The time moves him to fifth all-time in the Club’s U20 rankings and meets the qualifying standard for this summer’s Canadian Championships. Teammate Derek Strachan also dipped under the standard, placing seventh overall in 15:20.66.

In the CTFL 400m hurdles final, David Moulongou recorded his fastest time in two years, finishing fifth in 52.29 seconds—just a second behind Jamaican winner Sean Kalawan. Moulongou’s time ties him for seventh on the Club’s all-time list with Stuart Pearson.

In field events, Jessica Gyamfi continued her winning ways, claiming top honours in the CTFL shot put final with a best of 13.25 metres. In the men’s competition, Liam Davis led the field with a throw of 15.10 metres. Meanwhile, Maria Okwechime posted a season’s best of 5.91 metres in the long jump as she sharpens up for the Canadian Championships.

Rounding out the night’s highlights, Zachary Jeggo raced to a runner-up finish in the CTFL men’s 400m final, stopping the clock at 47.74 seconds.

With the Canadian Championships now less than three weeks away, Friday’s performances offer plenty of momentum heading into the season’s most anticipated competition.

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Four Lions Named to Team Ontario for Canada Summer Games

by linkinbioNational

Four athletes from the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club have earned the honour of representing Team Ontario at the upcoming 2025 Canada Summer Games, set to take place August 8–25 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Athletics events are scheduled for the second week of competition, running August 19–23 at the Fortis Canada Games Complex.

Leading the group is Jessica Gyamfi, who will compete in the women’s shot put. The University of Ottawa thrower has enjoyed a breakout year, highlighted by an Ontario Championship gold and consistent performances that now place her among the top throwers in the country. Before heading to Newfoundland, Gyamfi will don the red and white of Team Canada later this month at the FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.

Joining Gyamfi on the provincial squad are teammates Connor Fraser (discus throw), Liam Davis (shot put and hammer throw), and Zachary Jeggo (400 metres and relay pool). Fraser secured his place on the team after a dominant showing at the Canada Games Trials in Toronto, while Davis continues to make waves across multiple throwing disciplines. Jeggo, fresh off a record-setting relay performance at the Ontario U20 Championships, will look to bring his signature speed and relay versatility to the national stage.

Two additional Lions remain under consideration as alternates for Team Ontario: sprinter Jorai Oppong-Nketiah and decathlete Leo Wallner. Wallner, a member of the 2022 Canada Games team, placed second in the open decathlon at last month’s provincial championships. If selected, Oppong-Nketiah would become the youngest Lion to compete at the Games since Olympian Sultana Frizell did so as a 16-year-old in 2001.

The Canada Summer Games represent the pinnacle of multi-sport competition in the country for emerging athletes, and this year’s selections continue a proud tradition of Ottawa Lions athletes making their mark on the national stage.

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Lions Claim 60th Ontario Team Title in Record-Breaking Weekend

by linkinbioProvincial

With this weekend’s results, the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club has now claimed the Ontario U20 and Open team titles 13 times each—a benchmark unmatched since the current championship structure was introduced in 2000. The two titles push the club’s all-time total to 60 Ontario team championships across all age categories.

The Lions tied London Western Track and Field Club for the overall team title in the U20 and Open categories, with both clubs finishing at 158 points. Ottawa’s edge came in the U20 division, where the Lions scored 159 points to top London Western’s 142.5 and claim the U20 crown outright.

Fittingly, the team’s championship performance was punctuated by a thrilling finale in the U20 men’s 4x400m relay. The quartet of Ayoub Shangai, Ange-Mathis Kramo, William Sanders, and Zachary Jeggo blazed to gold in 3:14.80, smashing the national club record of 3:15.28 set by the Windsor Legion in 2013.

It was the second gold of the day for Jeggo, who earlier topped the field in the U20 men’s 400m hurdles with a time of 53.19—his fourth fastest ever. Teammate Kyle London joined him on the podium, earning silver in 54.23, his third-fastest performance to date.

Jorai Oppong-Nketiah continued her build towards the Canadian Championships, adding another title to her resume with a win in the U20 women’s 200m. Her wind-aided 23.63 marked the fastest performance of her career under any conditions.

Middle-distance star Sydney Smith captured her fourth consecutive Ontario senior 800m title, running a seasonal best 2:04.69 to take gold. Teammate Brooklyn McCormick clocked 2:12.68—her second-best career mark—for eighth place.

Smith and McCormick returned to the track later in the day to help the open women’s 4x400m relay team to victory, teaming with Cora McQuinn and Alexandra Telford to win the event for the third time in four years.

Telford also earned individual hardware, taking silver in the open women’s 400m hurdles in a season-best 1:01.00. On the men’s side, André Alie-Lamarche placed fourth in the open 800m, running 1:51.75—his third-fastest clocking to date. In the U20 800m final, Safwan El Mansari added a silver medal with a time of 1:54.82.

In the throws, Connor Fraser stood atop the podium in the open men’s discus, launching a best of 49.35m to claim gold. In the U20 men’s pole vault, Eli Mordel placed fourth with a clearance of 4.10m.

Rounding out the Lions’ notable efforts was Saul Taler, who delivered a strong run in the U20 men’s 3000m, finishing fourth in a season-best 8:44.33.

With medals across disciplines and age groups, a Canadian club record, and a pair of age class team titles, the Lions once again showcased their strength and depth on the provincial stage. With the Ontario Championships now in the books, attention turns to the National Championships—set for just over three weeks’ time at home in Ottawa—where this group of Lions will look to defend their turf on the country’s biggest stage.

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Lions Push for Provincial Titles with Strong Day Two Performances

by linkinbioProvincial

The Ottawa Lions turned in another strong showing Saturday at the Ontario U20 and Open Championships in Windsor, piling up medals and personal bests to remain firmly in the hunt for provincial titles. After two days of competition, the Lions sit atop the U20 team standings with 86 points—six ahead of Speed Academy and Project Athletics—while the Open division squad sits third overall, just eight points shy of top-ranked Royal City Athletics Club.

Sprinters once again led the charge, with Zachary Jeggo taking gold in the U20 men’s 400 metres in 47.37 seconds. He was joined on the podium by Ayoub Shangai, who claimed bronze in 48.05, while Ange-Mathis Kramo narrowly missed the medals in fourth at 48.08. William Sanders (7th, 49.44) and Kyle London (8th, 49.61) rounded out a strong Lions presence in the final.

In the U20 women’s 100 metres, Jorai Oppong-Nketiah secured silver with a wind-assisted 11.46—another podium performance for the young sprint standout.

Middle-distance veterans added to the medal count as Stephen Evans (3:50.83) and André Alie-Lamarche (3:52.43) went 2–3 in the Open men’s 1500 metres, while U20 runner Saul Taler ran a personal best 3:54.90 for fourth in his division. On the women’s side, Tessa Knight placed fourth in the U20 2000m steeplechase with a time of 7:39.79.

In the field, Jessica Gyamfi added a second medal to her weekend tally, throwing 40.93 metres to capture bronze in the Open women’s discus. Liam Davis impressed in both the hammer and shot put, setting personal bests in each. He finished sixth in the hammer (46.96m) and claimed silver in the shot put (15.90m), a mark that ranks him sixth all-time in club history. Connor Fraser took bronze in the same event with a throw of 15.52m.

The podium finishes by Davis and Fraser mark the first time two Lions have stood on the senior shot put podium at the Ontario Championships since 2001, when Brennan Jack (gold) and Ryan Rowat (bronze) accomplished the feat.

In the U20 men’s high jump, Fallo Douramodou cleared 2.00 metres for the first time to earn silver and move to #7 on the club’s all-time list. Maria Okwechime recorded a seasonal best 5.88m for sixth in the Open women’s long jump, while Emmett Pindar jumped a personal best 13.62m for sixth in the U20 men’s triple jump.

On the relay front, the Lions collected five more medals:

  • Gold in the Open women’s 4x100m (48.23 – Basu, McQuinn, Ogunremi, Cenac)
  • Bronze in the U20 men’s 4x100m (43.11 – Meikle, London, Costanzo, Sanders)
  • Gold in the Open men’s 4x800m (9:13.56 – Kaye, Sikka, Padoin-Castillo, Goold)
  • Silver in the U20 men’s 4x800m (8:10.88 – Zielonka, Heins, Puvan, Taler)
  • Silver in the U20 women’s 4x800m (10:03.34 – Knight, McIntyre, Johnston-Zemek, Dewar)

With one day to go, the Lions remain in strong contention for both the U20 and Open team titles, backed by momentum and depth across the board.

(York, Canada---19 July 2024) Jessica Gyamfi competes in the shot put at the 2024 Athletics Ontario U20/Open Championships held at the Toronto Track and Field Center at York University. Photograph Copyright 2024 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Gyamfi Grabs Gold as Lions Open Ontario Championships in Windsor

by linkinbioProvincial

Jessica Gyamfi delivered the Ottawa Lions’ first medal of the weekend Friday evening, striking gold in the open women’s shot put to kick off the Ontario U20 and Open Championships at the University of Windsor’s Alumni Stadium.

The University of Ottawa student continued her strong outdoor campaign by launching the 4-kilogram implement 12.79 metres—enough to edge out Dalyssa Huggins of the York University Track Club by 16 centimetres. Gyamfi returns to action Saturday afternoon in the discus, an event in which she’s made significant strides recently, improving her personal best by more than three metres over the past month.

Also in the throws circle, Sadie Gilbert placed fifth in the U20 women’s shot put. The recent Paul-Desmarais graduate saved her best for last, registering a mark of 11.79 metres in the final round—her third-best throw to date.

With temperatures hovering in the 30s, Zachary Sikka braved the heat in the open men’s 5000 metres to place seventh in 15:56.83—the second-fastest time of his career.

The bulk of Friday’s schedule centred on the 400-metre preliminaries, where the Lions’ depth was on full display. Six junior men earned spots in Saturday’s timed finals, with three advancing to the A final. Zachary Jeggo led the charge with a time of 48.69 seconds, followed closely by Ayoub Shangai (49.18) and Ange-Mathis Kramo (49.31). William Sanders (49.73), Kyle London (49.53), and Safwan El Mansari (49.98) all advanced to the B final.

On the women’s side, Olympian Lauren Gale topped all open qualifiers with a smooth 53.08 clocking to secure her place in the A final. She’ll be joined by Alexandra Telford (57.04), while Cora McQuinn, Courtney Cenac, and Elliot Tyman will compete in the B final.

In the U20 women’s division, both Shannon Dewar and Sophia McIntyre advanced to Saturday’s B final after solid performances in their preliminary rounds.

Action continues through Sunday in Windsor, where the Lions will look to defend their provincial U20 title. Live results are available at: https://athleticsontario.anet.live/meets/54609

(Ottawa, Canada---14 December 2024) Charlie Mortimer competing at the Candy Cane Relays hosted by the Ottawa Lions at the Dome @ Louis-Riel. Copyright 2024 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Rising Stars ShineBright at Canada Day Run

by linkinbioLocal

There was no shortage of fireworks on the course Tuesday morning as a group of determined Ottawa Lions athletes lit up the Canada Day Run in Kanata with a series of standout performances that etched their names into the Club’s all-time rankings.

Leading the charge in the 5km race was Charlie Mortimer, who delivered a commanding performance to take the overall men’s title in 15:28. The 17-year-old surged ahead early and never relinquished the lead, crossing the line 18 seconds clear of former Lion Nicholas Pedersen. The winning time not only sealed a decisive victory, but also vaulted Mortimer to #3 on the Club’s U18 all-time list, underscoring his rising presence in the local distance scene.

Joining Mortimer in the top-10 were teammates Jay Sneddon, 7th in 17:08, and Fred Parent, 10th in 17:42 — a strong collective showing for the Lions in a deep field.

On the women’s side, Ciara Villeneuve stepped up in more ways than one. Typically known for her success over 800 metres during the high school season, the transition to 5km proved no issue as she emerged as the top female finisher, placing 5th overall in 20:58. Jacqueline Aubin added another solid result for the club, finishing 10th in 21:37.

In the 10km event, Dean Kontogiannis added another strong result to his breakout year, finishing 7th overall in 36:57. The performance moved him to #6 on the Club’s U20 all-time list, continuing his upward trajectory at the longer distances.

Perhaps the most eye-catching result of the day came from 13-year-old Jaiden Taft, who impressed in his 10km debut with a 41:14 clocking — good for 19th overall. The effort places him #5 all-time among U16 athletes in Club history and marks an exciting start as he prepares to enter high school in the fall.

From breakthrough performances to historic milestones, the Lions used the Canada Day stage not just to race — but to rise.

(Ottawa, Canada---18 June 2025) Kyle London competes in Ottawa Summer Twilight Meet #3 at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Copyright 2025 Miles Ryan Rowat / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

London’s Breakthrough Decathlon Highlights Strong Weekend at Ontario Championships

by linkinbioProvincial

Kyle London delivered a gutsy and historic performance at the Ontario Combined Events Championships this weekend, claiming silver in the U20 men’s decathlon with a personal best 6056 points. Competing in his first year in the U20 age group, London’s performance was all the more impressive after failing to register a height in the pole vault—earning zero points in the event—but still breaking the 6000-point barrier. His total moves him to No. 4 on the Ottawa Lions’ all-time U20 rankings and puts him within striking distance of the club record of 6430, set by Taylor Corney in 2009.

In the open men’s decathlon, Leo Wallner also climbed the podium with a silver-medal effort, finishing with a score of 5275 points.

The Championships also served as the Canada Summer Games Trials for Ontario athletes, and Lions thrower Connor Fraser left no doubt in his bid for Team Ontario selection. The Carleton University student launched the discus 51.55 metres on his second attempt—a massive lifetime best and more than five metres ahead of the next best competitor—to secure victory and surpass the Athletics Ontario “A” standard. Fraser also added a silver medal in the shot put with a seasonal best of 15.55 metres.

Middle-distance runner Safwan El Mansari kept himself in the conversation for Team Ontario with a tactical win in the men’s 800 metres, crossing the line in 1:55.44. While the performance fell short of the required 1:50.65 standard, El Mansari’s win puts him in a strong position as the selection window remains open into the summer. He also notched a personal best of 49.17 in the 400 metres.

Several other Lions may yet hear their names called for Team Ontario, with final decisions to come in the weeks ahead. Among those under consideration is Ange-Mathis Kramo, who continued his stellar U18 campaign with personal bests in all three of his sprint events. Kramo ran 10.71 in the 100m heats—moving to No. 3 all-time in the Club’s U18 ranks behind Olympians Oluseyi Smith and Oluwasegun Makinde—before placing fifth in the final with a windy 10.59. His 200m bronze came in a Club U18 record time of 21.41, tying him for 14th fastest in Canadian U18 history alongside Olympian Christopher Morales Williams. He added a third-place finish in the 400m, stopping the clock at 47.80.

In the women’s discus, Jessica Gyamfi cracked the Club’s all-time top-10 with a personal best throw of 44.48 metres, moving to No. 7. The result continues a run of form that has seen her set personal bests in three consecutive meets, adding over three metres to her lifetime best. Gyamfi also added a silver medal in the shot put with a best throw of 12.76 metres.

Sprinter Jorai Oppong-Nketiah earned a pair of silver medals in the U20 women’s sprints, posting seasonal bests of 11.58 in the 100m and 24.17 in the 200m. Her consistent performances keep her in strong contention for Team Ontario selection.

Rounding out the weekend’s medal performances was Sabrina Di Maso, who rolled to a personal best 48.94 seconds in the 200m para wheelchair event to capture silver.

With records falling, athletes peaking, and selection decisions looming, the Ottawa Lions’ summer is just heating up as we build towards the hosting of the Canadian Track and Field Championships July 30 to August 3 at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

(Ottawa, Canada---11 June 2025) Mikel Fortier competes in Ottawa Summer Twilight Meet #2 at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Copyright 2025 Miles Ryan Rowat / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Lions Shine at Legion District Meet with 37 Medals, Five Nationals Standards

by linkinbioLocal

Sixteen athletes from the Ottawa Lions kicked off their road to Nationals in style last Sunday, collecting a remarkable 37 medals at the Royal Canadian Legion District G Track and Field Meet held at Thousand Islands Secondary School in Brockville. With 18 golds among the haul, the regional qualifier served as a strong start toward the Legion National Championships set for August in Calgary.

Leading the charge was Eric Combasson, who stood atop the podium no fewer than three times in the U14 division, claiming gold in the 80m, 80m hurdles, and high jump. He also added silver medals in the javelin and long jump, and a bronze in the 300m—an impressive six-medal outing.

Five Lions hit national standards, earning valuable qualifications for the summer finale. Mikel Fortier delivered a strong performance in the U18 boys 2000m steeplechase, stopping the clock at 6:29.69—a personal best that clinched his ticket to Calgary. Fortier didn’t stop there, returning later to win the 3000m in 9:40.79.

Pole vaulter Eli Mordel soared to 3.30m to match the national benchmark and secure top honours in the U18 boys event. He also clocked a windy 14.50 seconds to take gold in the 110m hurdles.

Sprinter Chloë Martineau secured a coveted spot at the Ontario Championships with her runner-up finish in the U18 girls 100m. Her time of 12.65 seconds also cleared the national standard. Martineau completed her day with a victory in the 200m, running a wind-aided 26.21.

Fresh off his OFSAA triumph, Parker Baetz was a dominating force in the throws. The U18 standout notched wins in the javelin (47.76m) and shot put (12.41m), and also hit the national standard in discus with a personal best throw of 40.60m.

Elsewhere, Moussa Cisse showed continued progress with personal bests in all three of his events. He earned a silver and two bronze medals on the day and secured his Ontario Championships berth with a 12.21m leap in the triple jump.

Farrah Henderson battled the heat and came away with a golden double in the U18 girls 1500m (5:37.23) and 3000m (12:39.38), further adding to the Lions’ medal tally.

With more meets ahead before provincial and national teams are finalized, Sunday’s results showed there is much to look forward to this summer season. The next stop on the path to Calgary is the Ontario Legion Championships, set for York University July 11–12.

Let me know if you’d like a shorter version for social media, or if you’d like to highlight specific athletes in future posts.

(Ottawa, Canada---12 June 2024) Youth Program athletes competing at Ottawa Summer Twilight Meet #2 at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Copyright 2024 Miles Ryan Rowat / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Countdown to Summer: Lions Track and Field Camps Return June 30

by Clublinkinbio

With just one week to go until the start of our 2025 Summer Camp season, excitement is building at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Registration continues to exceed pre-pandemic levels, and we’re thrilled to welcome back so many familiar faces—along with plenty of new ones. Weekly spots remain open until the Thursday before each camp session, so there’s still time to join the fun.

From June 30 through August 22, the Ottawa Lions will once again offer our popular youth track and field camps in both half-day and full-day formats. Morning sessions run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with the full-day camp extending to 4:00 p.m. after a supervised lunch break. For those looking for an afternoon-only option, we’ve got you covered from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Back by popular demand is our Foundation Summer Camp, geared specifically toward athletes aged 12 to 14. Whether you’re an annual club member or brand new to the sport, this program is designed to challenge participants and help them take the next step in their athletic journey. Many campers go on to compete in local and provincial competitions—and most importantly, have a great time doing it.

This summer is particularly special as Ottawa plays host to the 2025 Canadian Track and Field Championships, with Canada’s top athletes aiming to secure their spots for the World Championships in Tokyo. With so much national attention on the sport, our camps offer a unique opportunity for young athletes to be part of something bigger and experience the energy of championship season firsthand.

If you have questions or need more information, reach out to us at info@ottawalions.com or tnedow@ottawalions.com.

We can’t wait to see you at the track!