All posts by : Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club

Since the early years of the Ottawa Lions, there isn’t much Joe Burke has not undertaken. He’s been the throws coach, the head coach and until his recent retirement Burke served as the manager of our very successful youth program for nearly a decade.
Burke’s youth program could be the envy of all other clubs across Canada where he employed the principles of the Run, Jump, Throw program to teach a new generation all the great things about our sport. The program became so popular among 6 to 12 year olds in Ottawa that it saw an incredible 1000 plus participants in Joe’s final year of service.
In recognition of this exemplary dedication to the growth and development of the club, Burke was inducted into the Hall of Fame under the builder’s category. In addition as a builder, Burke was the initial Hall of Fame inductee back in 2001 when he was recognized for his coaching excellence and service.
For Burke, the satisfaction always came from the joy he saw and the excitement he received from seeing kids improve. “If I’ve lots to the Ottawa Lions kids, they’ve given so much more to me,” said Burke during his acceptance speech.
In addition to the Hall of Fame induction, awards were presented to outstanding athletes across all age categories as well as for athletes with a disability, road and cross country running.
The Gilbert Awards, which honour our most outstanding male and female athletes on the track and in the field, were presented to a number of familiar faces and one new one.
Among the men, it was a repeat of 2015 where Sekou Kaba took home top track honours following a silver medal in the 110m hurdles at the Francophone Games and top 8 placing at the World University Games. Nedow won his fifth straight Canadian shot put title en route to a 16th place finish at the World Championships.
On the women’s side, the recently wed Melissa Bishop-Nriagu took home top billing on the track. Bishop-Nriagu bettered her own Canadian 800m record with a 1:57.01 clocking in Monaco this year before finishing 5th at the World Championships. This was her sixth straight award.
Divya Biswal captured her first every Lions award, as she was named most outstanding female field athlete after breaking a 15 year old record in the triple jump and moving to number three on the long jump list. Biswal victory also ended Sultana Frizell’s 12 year reign, the longest in club history.
World Paralympic silver medalist Jason Dunkerley was recognized with the Sam Estwick award as the most outstanding athlete with a disability. Dunkerley, who announced his retirement from competitive running at last year’s awards banquet returned to the track in June to make another run at worlds. With new guide Jeremie Venne, the pair captured a silver medal in London. This was Dunkerley’s 11th victory.
As well, Melinda Tebrake was awarded the Sean Cole Memorial award which recognizes a volunteer whose efforts go far beyond the boundaries of expectation and service. Tebrake is an invaluable coach in the youth program who is always willing to go the extra mile and pitch in when needed. As well, she was a valuable volunteer at this past summer’s Canadian Track and Field Championship.

It was a big weekend for cross country running in Canada with both the Athletics Ontario and USports Championships going off Sunday. The Lions were represented by small contingents at both events.
In Bracebridge, only two Lions took part in the provincial championships with 15 year old Katie Newlove leading the way with a fourth place finish in the midget girls race. Newlove completed the 4 kilometre course in a time of 16 minutes 12 seconds, equal to that of bronze medalist Sophie Coutts of the Central Toronto Athletic Club. In fact the top five placings were only separated by three seconds. Newlove’s teammate, Elana Tyman was 55th in the field of 119 girls.
At the USports Championships in Victoria, the top finisher was Carleton University’s Jenna Van Vliet. A graduate student in engineering, Van Vliet, placed 30th in the field of 150 in a time of 30 minutes 17 seconds. It was a familiar course for the Raven who was a member of the University of Victoria’s cross country team while completing her undergraduate degree.
Also in the women’s race, University of Ottawa freshman Keili Shepherd was 62nd overall in a time of 30 minutes 59 seconds.
The Gee Gee men were represented by Alex Berhe and Ziyad El-Hankouri who were tightly bunched, finishing 79th and 82nd respectively. Berhe completed the 10 kilometre course in a time of 33:34, 9 seconds ahead of El-Hankouri.
The cross country season will culminate in two weeks time at the Canadian Championships to be held at the historic Fort Henry in Kingston.

Joe Fast is starting to develop a very good habit. The grade 10 student at Ridgemont High School was victorious Saturday in the junior boy’s race at the OFSAA Cross Country Championships.
It was the third successive gold at a provincial high school championship for the 15 year old after claiming midget boys cross country and 1500m gold as a grade 9 student.
Fast was able to complete the 5km course in a time of 18 minutes 22.9 seconds, more than 12 seconds ahead of second place finisher Matthew Lampard. Fast’s club teammates Adam Sanger (8th) and Zachary Meredith (14th) were also able to crack the top 15.
Also notable performances came from the duo of Katie Newlove (St. Peter’s) and Skye Pellerin (St. Francis Xavier) who finished 5th and 6th respectively. Newlove finished the 5km course in a time of 21 minutes 38.1 seconds, less than five seconds off the podium. Pellerin was a mere 1.4 seconds behind Newlove.
Next up on the cross country schedule for club athletes will be the Canadian Championships at the historic Fort Henry in Kingston on November 25.
 
 

Ottawa Lions athletes have once again put on an excellent display of athletic prowess over the past year, while coaches and volunteers continue to show the tremendous dedication that has made our club Canada’s best. On November 18 we will gather at the RA Centre to celebrate these many excellent achievements.
Athletic awards will be presented for top athletes in the various age categories as well as acknowledging top performers in paralympic events, cross country, road running and the combined events. As well, the Sean Cole Memorial Award will be handed out for dedication to club service.
Tickets are $35 each and include dinner, dessert and great company. There are a limited amount of tickets and they will be available on a first come first serve basis.
Please RSVP to kthomas@ottawalions.com with the amount of tickets you would like to reserve.
Details:
2017 Ottawa Lions Awards Banquet
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Reception: Doors open at 5pm with dinner and awards to follow at 6pm
RA Centre
2451 Riverside Dr, Ottawa, ON
Tickets: $35 (Cash, Cheque, E-Transfer)
 
 

If you happened to wonder what some of the loud clapping and cheering from the infield at Terry Fox was all about Tuesday night, wonder no longer. Olympian Sekou Kaba got down on one knee and proposed to long term girlfriend and Lions coach Kashani Thomas. She said “Yes! Of course! Of course! Of course!” by the way.
It wasn’t quite what Thomas was expecting when she showed up early to practice for what she thought was a mini documentary about her coaching experience with friend and videographer Andrew Szeto.
Kaba had different plans, telling the camera, “Today we are proposing to Kashani Thomas,” Sekou continues, “It’s going to be amazing. Hopefully she says yes,” before breaking into laughter.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itJfgl27iGQ&w=560&h=315] The pair met as teenagers during practice 10 years ago at the Dome @ Louis Riel. As Thomas describes it, she spotted him in the weight room, proceeded to walk up to him and ask, “Do you need a ride home? I know I don’t like know you or anything, but my mom can give you a drive home if you need a ride home.” The pair have been together ever since.
After she said yes, and hugs and kisses were shared, Thomas came to a realization. “What the heck Sekou? How am I supposed to coach now? I can’t coach them now,” as she wiped the tears of excitement from her eyes. Ever the supportive fiancé, Kaba simply retorted, “You have to.”
Congratulations to the happy couple from the entire Lions pride.
 
 
 
 

When Athletics Ontario convened last week to honour the province’s best athletes, four Lions athletes were recognized for their outstanding performances on the track and in the field in 2017.
Canada’s best 800m runner ever, Melissa Bishop, was again recognized as Ontario’s best senior female distance runner. For the third year in a row, Bishop lowered the Canadian record for 800m, running 1:57.01 at the Monaco Diamond League Meeting in July. In addition to her new national record, the Eganville native captured her fourth Canadian 800m title in Ottawa along with a 5th place finish at the IAAF World Championships in London.
Tim Nedow was also a repeat winner at the awards ceremony, taking home the award senior men’s throws category for the sixth straight year. Nedow was a double medalist at the Canadian Championships, picking up a silver in the discus and capturing his 5th straight shot put gold. The Brockville native also placed 16th in the shot put at the World Championship.
It was a triumphant return from retirement for Jason Dunkerley in 2017 as he was named the top male para track athlete. Just nine months after retiring from international competition, Dunkerley teamed up with guide Jeremie Venne to finish second in the T11 1500m at the IPC World Championships . It was Dunkerley’s sixth career world championship medal.
The final award was bestowed upon Sharelle Samuel who was named the province’s top youth girl sprinter. Samuel had a breakout season in 2017, highlighted by a silver medal in the 400m hurdles at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Nassau, Bahamas. It took a lifetime best performance of 59.59 seconds to find her way on to the podium, which was also the fourth best performance in club history. In addition, Samuel was also a double bronze medalist (400m/400mH) at the Canadian Junior Championships.

Things appeared to get off to a great start for Joe Fast on Friday at the National Legion Championships in Brandon, Manitoba on Friday. The provincial silver medalist in the Under 16 1200m had appeared to have taken gold, but upon further review, Fast would be disqualified under IAAF rule 163.2b – jostling.
However, Fast was quick to rebound Saturday in the 2000m event, running to a silver medal in a personal best time of 5 minutes 47.64 seconds. Fast’s performance was nearly three seconds ahead of his previous best, set at the Ontario Legion Championships in July.
Fast came up just short in a bid to add to the medal collection on Sunday when he finished fourth in the 800m in a time of 2:01.11.
Also competing in Brandon was Aidan McMann. The thrower from Immaculata High School finished ninth in both under 18 boys discus and shot put, missing out on the final in the latter event by a mere five centimetres.
Sprinter Noah Regnier had a top finish of 15th in the under 18 boys 400m with a time of 51.70 seconds.

It wasn’t the ending Melissa Bishop was hoping for as the IAAF World Championships drew to a close Sunday at the Olympic Stadium in London. The  defending silver medalist failed to return to the medal podium, crossing the finish line in fifth.
While Bishop’s time of 1:57.68 was the fourth fastest of her career, she feels it was tactics that let her down on Sunday. “I don’t think I ran my race,” Bishop said. “It’s coming, it’s positive, it’s nothing I’m upset about, the result is more what I’m upset about. I’m tired of 1:57s, I want something faster.”
“I think if I was closer to the front of that pack, I’m positive we could have run 1:56 [her Canadian record is 1:57.01]. We’re right on the cusp.”
Bishop should get another shot to go 1:56 in just over a week at the Diamond League final in Zurich where she will again do battle with many of Sunday’s finalists.
 
 

After an agonizing fourth place finish in the Rio 800m final, Melissa Bishop begins her run back to the global podium today at the IAAF World Championships.
The defending world silver medalist will run in heat 2 at 2:34pm eastern today. You can watch live on the IAAF YouTube Page.
We had a chance to talk with Bishop after the Canadian Championships to discuss her background and her goals for London 2017.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTYyXdzqDCA?ecver=1&w=560&h=315] Thank you to One Track Mind for the help in producing this video.
 

They say the more things change, the more they stay the same. Such was the case for shot putter Tim Nedow today at the IAAF World Championships in London.
Nedow finished 16th in this morning’s qualifying round with a best of 20.09m. It was a familiar placing as Nedow finished in the same position a year ago in Rio. Only the top 12 athletes advanced to tomorrow’s final.
After his 20.09m put in the second round, Nedow was poised to make a final push towards the final. “I thought I was going to hit one big because I knew I had to. I just missed it and another 20m throw.”
“I was ready to throw far,” said the Brockville native after the event. “The competition level this year, I knew it was going to take more. I think it took 20.50 something which is the best ever.”
The Ottawa Lions are back in action in London on Thursday when Melissa Bishop takes to the track in the 800m heats at 2:25 pm eastern. Bishop is the defending silver medalist in the event.