(Ottawa, Canada---30 May 2025) Zachary Jeggo competes at the 2025 OFSAA East Region Qualifier Track and Field meet. Photograph Copyright 2025 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Jeggo Nearly Breaks National Record as Lions Close OFSAA with Golden Relay Glory

by High Schoollinkinbio

Zachary Jeggo capped a historic high school career in style Saturday, leading Louis-Riel to a record-breaking day at the OFSAA Track and Field Championships and nearly toppling a Canadian interscholastic record that has stood since 1985.

The senior from Louis-Riel blazed to gold in the senior boys 400-metre hurdles, stopping the clock at 51.76 seconds—the second-fastest time ever run in Canadian high school history. The performance came within a hair of the 40-year-old OFSAA and Canadian Interscholastic record of 51.68, set by Lions alumnus Phillip Hughes. Jeggo’s victory also marked his third consecutive OFSAA title in the intermediate hurdles, having won the 300m hurdles as a junior and the 400m variant last season. His time now ranks No. 2 in club history among U20 athletes.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s Kyle London nearly joined him on the podium, finishing fourth in a personal best 53.35 seconds—his second lifetime best in as many days. The performance moved him to eighth on the club’s U20 all-time list.

Cova Earns Second Medal, McGregor Moves into Club Top 10

Not long after Jeggo’s triumph, fellow Louis-Riel senior Daniel Cova capped his own decorated high school career with a bronze medal in the senior boys 3000 metres. Cova clocked 8:22.54, the second-fastest time of his career, earning his third OFSAA medal overall after claiming cross country gold in the fall and 1500m bronze on Friday.

In the junior girls 800 metres, Ellie McGregor of Immaculata earned her second podium finish of the weekend. The Grade 10 standout ran a seasonal best 2:12.34 to take bronze in a tightly contested finish, edged out at the line by Indie Bennett of Adam Scott. McGregor’s time moves her to No. 10 on the club’s U18 all-time list.

Baetz Unleashes Clutch Throw for Gold

Parker Baetz of Holy Trinity saved his best for last in the junior boys javelin, unleashing a personal best of 54.13 metres in the fifth round to surge from sixth place to gold. The mark added over half a metre to the PB he set two weeks earlier at the OFSAA East Region Championships. Baetz’s win also completed a Lions sweep of the junior javelin, following Mallea McMullin’s gold on Friday.

Relay Gold Seals Team Title for Louis-Riel

In the final event of the championships, Louis-Riel’s open boys 4x400m relay squad delivered a thrilling finish. Led by Ayoub Shangai (48.8), Daniel Cova (51.5), and Zachary Jeggo (46.8), the three Lions roared to victory in 3:18.17, securing the first-ever OFSAA boys 4x400m relay title by an Ottawa-based school.

The win also clinched the senior boys team title for Louis-Riel—the first by a local school since Brookfield High School in 1979.

Final Day Highlights

  • Eli Mordel of Sir Robert Borden cleared a personal best of 4.30m in the senior boys pole vault to finish fifth. His clearance moves him to sixth on the club’s U20 all-time list.
  • Charlie Mortimer, a silver medallist in the steeplechase on Friday, came back to finish seventh in the 3000m, running six seconds faster than his previous best (8:34.00). His time now ranks fourth among club U18 athletes.
  • Alexandra Harris, a standout in the novice girls division, placed fifth in the 3000m in 10:29.52, moving to ninth on the club’s U16 list.

A Strong Finish to a Stellar Weekend

In total, Lions athletes captured 13 medals over the three-day championship, closing the OFSAA season on a high. For many, including Jeggo, Cova, Grace Streek, Quinn Coughlin, and a host of graduating seniors, Saturday marked their final lap in high school competition.

The future, however, looks just as bright.

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McMullin Defends, Mortimer Delivers in Record-Setting Day 2 at OFSAA

by High Schoollinkinbio

A provincial title defense, a club record rewrite, and multiple trips to the podium highlighted a successful second day of competition for Ottawa Lions athletes at the OFSAA Track and Field Championships in Toronto.

In the field, Mallea McMullin of Louis-Riel set the tone for the day as she successfully defended her provincial title in the junior girls javelin. The reigning champion launched a winning throw of 39.32 metres—more than 2.5 metres clear of the competition—to secure her second straight OFSAA gold. AY Jackson’s Abby Lorz finished 15th on the day following a best throw of 27.10 metres.

Charlie Mortimer delivered one of the standout performances of the day, storming to a silver medal in the open boys 2000m steeplechase with a time of 5:56.30. The Hillcrest standout shattered his previous best by 13 seconds and obliterated the Club’s previous U18 record of 6:04.47 in the process.

Distance specialist Grace Streek added another medal to her growing collection, capturing bronze in the open girls 3000m steeplechase. Her time of 7:01.14 was the second fastest of her career and marked her fourth career OFSAA track medal, completing the full set of gold, silver, and bronze. Franco Ouest’s Tessa Knight clocked 7:21.70 for ninth place, her second personal best in as many days.

On the track, Zachary Jeggo added to his remarkable OFSAA résumé, earning silver in the senior boys 400m with a time of 47.26. It marks the fifth career OFSAA medal for the Louis-Riel student. Fellow Lion Ange-Mathis Kramo placed fourth in 48.57, narrowly missing his PB, while Stephan Balson was unable to finish the race.

Middle-distance star Daniel Cova added to the medal haul with a gutsy bronze in the senior boys 1500m. The Louis-Riel athlete dropped a massive personal best of 3:47.25—improving four seconds on the time he set in Thursday’s heats. The result moves Cova to #7 on the Club’s U20 all-time list. Saul Taler of Glebe also contested the final, finishing 12th in 3:56.56.

In the junior girls 400m, Ellie McGregor turned in a breakthrough performance, claiming bronze in a personal best of 56.82 seconds. The time ranks her 10th on the Club’s U18 all-time list.

In the sprints, Jorai Oppong-Nketiah of Louis-Riel raced to silver in the senior girls 100m final, clocking 11.88 seconds in a strong headwind. In the novice girls final, Olivia Daigle-Dasah of Franco-Cité finished eighth in 13.22.

Two Lions earned top-five finishes in the one-lap events. Quinn Coughlin placed fifth in the senior girls 400m in 56.84 seconds, while Declan McGinnity impressed with a personal best of 51.98 in the novice boys 400m—good for #2 on the Club’s U16 all-time rankings.

Over the hurdles, Zachary Benfaida of Merivale narrowly missed the podium in the junior boys 100m hurdles, placing fourth in a lifetime best of 14.20 seconds. He’ll be back in action Saturday in the 300m hurdles.

Rounding the day out in the field, Fallo Douramodou of Immaculata tied his personal best in the senior boys high jump, clearing 1.90 metres to place seventh. Mason Brennan finished 10th with a best of 1.85m. In the sand pit, Kaiya Woodcock placed sixth in the senior girls long jump with a leap of 5.28m.

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Cazabon Claims Gold, Jeggo Leads 400m Trio into Finals on Day1 of OFSAA

by High Schoollinkinbio

Maxime Cazabon delivered Ottawa’s first gold of the OFSAA Track and Field Championships on Thursday, soaring to victory in the novice boys high jump with a personal best clearance of 1.92 metres. The triumph adds two centimetres to the Canadian indoor U16 champion’s previous best and moves the Garneau standout within striking distance of Olympian Brian Marshall’s club U16 record of 1.97m.

On the track, Daniel Cova continued his strong season, leading all qualifiers in the senior boys 1500 metres with a personal best of 3:51.44. Fellow Lion Saul Taler also secured a place in Friday’s final, finishing just shy of his lifetime best in 3:56.14.

In the junior boys 1500m, Max Gerundin nabbed the 12th and final qualifying spot in a tactical heat, clocking 4:11.50. Alexandra Harris made a strong impression in the novice girls 1500m, slicing five seconds off her best to run 4:47.83 to book a spot in the final. The cross country medallist will look to add more hardware on the track in Friday’s final.

All four Lions entries in the 2000m steeplechase advanced to the final, with Charlie Mortimer and Mikel Fortier moving on in the open boys division, and Grace Streek and Tessa Knight doing the same on the girls’ side.

Streek, a three-time OFSAA medalist heading into the meet, will look to add to her resume in Friday’s final.

In 400m qualifying, junior Ellie McGregor lowered her week old personal best, crossing in 57.14 to win her heat. Declan McGinnity advanced in the novice boys race, and senior Quinn Coughlin moved on comfortably in her division.

The senior boys 400m qualifiers were dominated by the Lions, with three of four advancing to the final. Zachary Jeggo led the charge with a smooth 47.63, the second-fastest time of the day. Stephan Balson followed in 48.05, qualifying fourth overall, while Ange-Mathis Kramo shaved more than half a second off his personal best to advance in fifth at 48.41. Ayoub Shangai narrowly missed joining them, placing ninth in 48.70—a personal best that moves him to No. 5 on the Club’s U18 all-time list.

In field event action, Sadie Gilbert placed sixth in the senior girls shot put with a best of 11.20m. Timeo Atonfo finished ninth in the senior boys triple jump at 13.74m. Roxy Gardiner also placed ninth in the junior girls long jump with a leap of 5.10m, while Noah Hollinger took 10th in the junior boys triple jump at 12.54m.

(Ottawa, Canada---29 May 2025) Stephan Balson and Wyatt Lee compete at the 2025 OFSAA East Region Qualifier Track and Field meet. Photograph Copyright 2025 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages Filename SB20250529EastRegions90.JPG Copyright Copyright Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images, 2025 seanburges@yahoo.com seanburges@mundosportimages.com www.mundosportimages.com

Records, Depth, and Dominance: 59 Lions Advance to OFSAA Championships

by High Schoollinkinbio

It was a record-setting event for Ottawa Lions athletes at the OFSAA East Regional Track and Field Championships, with 59 individuals punching their tickets to this week’s provincial championship in Toronto. Hosted at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility, the two-day meet saw club athletes claim top honours, shatter long-standing records, and reinforce the program’s depth across events.

Among the standout performances was Zachary Jeggo’s historic run in the senior boys 400 metres. The Louis-Riel senior tore around the oval in 46.97 seconds, breaking a 22-year-old meet record previously held by former Lion Ryan Therrien (48.16). The time also erased a decades-old club U20 record set by Phillip Hughes at the 1985 World University Games in Kyoto, Japan.

Jeggo’s victory led a Lions sweep of all four OFSAA qualifying spots in the senior boys 400m, with Stephan Balson taking second in 48.48, Ange-Mathis Kramo third in a personal best 48.93, and Ayoub Shangai fourth in another PB of 49.34.

Not to be outdone, Balson added his own piece of history with a 21.23-second victory in the senior boys 200m—another meet record. The time moves him to #2 all-time in club U20 ranks, trailing only Olympian Oluwasegun Makinde, who holds both the OFSAA and club record at 20.99 seconds.

The girls made their mark as well, led by Ellie MacGregor, who claimed gold in the junior girls 400m in 57.23, breaking a 20-year-old meet record previously held by Olympian Melissa Bishop-Nriagu. In the field, Mallea McMullin launched the junior girls javelin out to 42.60m, besting the previous meet best by more than two metres and climbing to #4 U18 all-time among club athletes.

The Lions’ strength wasn’t just in their stars—it was in their numbers. Jeggo was back at it in the 400m hurdles, leading another clean sweep of OFSAA qualifiers. His winning time of 53.42 seconds was followed by Kyle London (55.47 PB), Jonah Gratton, and Taisai Tan, all securing their places in Toronto.

On the women’s side, Quinn Coughlin doubled up in the senior girls 400m (56.72) and 400m hurdles (1:03.14), while Jorai Oppong-Nketiah dominated the senior girls 100m in 11.72 seconds. Clubmate Kaiya Woodcock narrowly missed silver in the same event, finishing in a tie at 12.03, but losing out by just three-thousandths of a second. Woodcock responded with a personal best 5.43m leap in the long jump, capturing gold and moving to #9 all-time U20 in club history.

Middle-distance standouts Laila Lebel and Alexandra Harris were the only Lions to qualify in three individual events. Lebel swept the junior girls 1500m and 3000m while finishing fourth in the 800m—all in personal best times. Harris also ran PBs across the board, picking up silver at 3000m and bronzes in both the 800m and 1500m.

Daniel Cova was a force over the long distances, winning both the senior boys 1500m and 3000m with commanding performances. The Louis-Riel senior’s 1500m time of 3:54.83 put him five seconds clear of the field, and his 8:32.94 clocking in the 3000m sealed his distance double.

In the triple jump, Timeo Atonfo, working his way back from hamstring issues, soared to a personal best 14.16m to win the senior boys title. It was a strong return to form that vaulted him to #8 U20 all-time in club history.

Maxime Cazabon continued his steady improvement in the high jump. After being forced to withdraw from the 100m at the NCSSAA East Conference Championship due to hamstring concerns, the Garneau Grade 9 athlete looked back at full strength for OFSAA Regionals. He cleared 1.83m to win the novice boys high jump by eight centimetres—just shy of his 1.90m indoor best.

With 59 Lions advancing to OFSAA, and momentum clearly on their side, the club will look to carry its regional success onto the provincial stage in Toronto starting Thursday.

OFSAA Track and Field Results will be available on Athletic Live

Watch OFSAA on AthleticsCanada.tv and use the coupon code ac7daytrialofsaa to activate a free seven-day RunnerSpace +PLUS subscription to watch all the action.

(Ottawa, Canada---14 December 2024) Max Gerundin 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

Gerundin’s Triple Gold Headlines Strong EOSSAA Showing in Brockville

by High Schoollinkinbio

Ottawa Lions athletes made their mark at the EOSSAA Track and Field Championships this past Thursday and Friday in Brockville, with 13 club members advancing to this week’s OFSAA East Regional Championships at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

Leading the way was Bishop Smith’s Max Gerundin, who turned in one of the most dominant performances of the meet. The junior boy not only swept the distance events but also etched his name into the EOSSAA record books. Gerundin took a commanding win in the 800 metres, stopping the clock in 1:58.26 to erase the meet record set just last year by fellow Lion Malachi Kenny. Prior to his 800m success, he opened the meet with a runaway victory in the 1500m, crossing the line in 4:15.85—ten seconds clear of the field—before completing the golden treble in the 3000m with a 9:38.39 finish.

A double gold-medal performance came from Opeongo standout Quinn Coughlin. The reigning national U18 champion in the 400m hurdles and current Ontario U20 400m titleholder proved her class in the senior ranks, sweeping the flat and hurdles double. She captured the 400m in 57.70 seconds, nearly three seconds ahead of the next best competitor, and clocked 1:01.35 to win the 400m hurdles—just four-tenths shy of the EOSSAA meet record.

In the novice boys 3000m, it was Oscar Lorrain who claimed gold in 9:58.20, cruising to victory by more than eight seconds. The talented youngster also battled to a silver in the 800m, narrowly edged at the line. One of his main competitors throughout the meet, Glengarry’s Rowan Blaine, earned top honours in the 1500m, winning in 4:39.99.

On the girls’ side, North Dundas’ Evelyn Cooper captured the novice 400m crown, powering to a 1:03.55 finish to take the win.

With strong performances across all event groups and age classes, the Lions contingent now turns its attention to the OFSAA East Regional Championships, which take place this Thursday and Friday back home in Ottawa. There, athletes will aim to secure their spots at the OFSAA Championships in Toronto, set for the first weekend in June.

Full results from the EOSSAA Championships are available on our website.

(Ottawa, Canada---14 May 2025) Zach Jeggo competes at the NCSSAA East Conference Track and Field Championships. Photograph Copyright 2025 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Records Tumble as Lions Shine at NCSSAA Track and Field Championships

by High Schoollinkinbio

The road to OFSAA rolled through the nation’s capital this week, with more than 100 Ottawa Lions athletes booking their place at next week’s East Regionals following standout performances at the NCSSAA Track and Field Championships, held Wednesday and Thursday at Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

The top five in each event earned the right to advance to the OFSAA East Regional Championships, set for May 29–30 back in Ottawa, with the ultimate goal being a berth at the OFSAA Championships in Toronto this June. And for the Lions contingent, the city championships served up no shortage of excellence—complete with record-breaking marks, dominant displays, and a preview of what could be in store for the provincial stage.

Jeggo Repeats with Record Run

Zachary Jeggo led the charge for the Lions, reclaiming his senior boys 400m title in emphatic fashion by breaking his own meet record with a time of 47.50 seconds. Running in cool, rainy conditions, Jeggo surged past teammate Stephan Balson in the final 40 metres to edge the Lisgar standout and reigning East Conference champion, whose 47.49 remains the fastest time this season in the region. Jeggo, last year’s Canadian U18 champion, also cruised to victory in the 400m hurdles in 54.69, finishing more than a second clear of clubmate Kyle London.

London Leaves His Mark

While Jeggo claimed gold, Kyle London impressed with his versatility. The budding combined events athlete—silver medalist in the heptathlon at the Canadian U20 Indoor Championships—qualified for Regionals in all three of his events. He finished fourth in both the 400m (49.95) and shot put (12.73m), in addition to his silver in the 400m hurdles.

McGregor and McMullin Rewrite the Record Books

Two more Lions etched their names into NCSSAA history this week. In the junior girls 800m, Ellie McGregor broke the meet record for the second week in a row. Her time of 2:15.67 narrowly eclipsed the 2013 mark set by former Lion Emma Galbraith. McGregor’s dominance was undeniable, finishing nearly 17 seconds ahead of the field. She also captured gold in the 400m with a swift 58.33 clocking.

In the throwing fields, Mallea McMullin continued her reign as one of the top young talents in the country. The defending Canadian U16 champion launched the javelin 39.44m—just shy of her personal best but enough to surpass Madison McLean’s 2017 meet record of 38.64m. McMullin also secured gold in the discus with a mark of 26.12m, more than three metres ahead of her nearest challenger.

Cova Eyes History

One of the week’s most anticipated races came in the senior boys’ 3000m, where Louis-Riel’s Daniel Cova took aim at a meet record that has stood for over three decades. While he didn’t quite reach Sean Kaley’s 1994 standard of 8:26.15, Cova delivered a commanding win in 8:28.57. A month removed from his 8:20.89 personal best, the Lions distance runner also took gold in the 1500m, outkicking training partner Saul Taler in 4:01.14.

Taler, representing Glebe, added a bronze in the 3000m and edged fellow Lion and schoolmate Russell Heins in a tight 800m duel, 1:57.11 to 1:57.32.

Harris Dominates Novice Division

Grade 9 standout Alexandra Harris swept the novice girls’ distance events in impressive fashion, capturing gold in the 800m (2:26.56) and 1500m (4:59.41) — both personal bests. The John McCrae student narrowly missed her personal best over 3000m, but her winning time of 10:56.50 left her more than 18 seconds clear of her nearest competitor.

Lebel’s Distance Triple

Colonel By’s Laila Lebel also made her presence felt in the junior girls division, earning silver medals in the 800m and 1500m before claiming gold in the 3000m to cap her championship triple.

With the spotlight now shifting to next week’s East Regionals, Lions athletes are one step closer to representing Ottawa on the provincial stage. 

Full results available on our website.
Updated Club rankings available at https://milesrowat.shinyapps.io/ottl_rankings/

(Ottawa, Canada---23 May 2024) Ange-Mathis Kramo of ESC Paul-Desmarais - Stittsvil races in the 100m at the National Capital Secondary School Athletic Association (NCSSAA) Track and Field Championships. Photograph Copyright 2024 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Champions Rise at NCSSAA West: Records Fall and Future Stars Emerge

by High Schoollinkinbio

The 2025 NCSSAA West Conference Track and Field Championships wrapped up with a flurry of standout performances Wednesday at Terry Fox Athletic Facility, as the athletes  battled for spots at next week’s city finals. Among the more than 70 Lions, a handful stood head and shoulders above the rest—both literally and figuratively.

Kramo Outduels Defending Champion in Sprint Sweep

Ange-Mathis Kramo was untouchable in the senior boys’ sprints, pulling off a rare sweep of the 100, 200, and 400 metres. The Grade 11 student from Paul-Desmarais sent a message in the 100m final, edging past defending champion Will Batley 10.83 to 10.89. Kramo turned up the heat in the 200m, setting a new meet record of 21.61 seconds to Batley’s 22.09. His 400m performance was equally impressive—a personal best of 49.05 seconds that won his heat by nearly seven seconds and placed him fourth on the Lions’ U18 all-time list.

Baetz Blasts Meet Record in Javelin During Throws Triple

Holy Trinity’s Parker Baetz turned the junior boys’ throws into a personal showcase, sweeping the shot put, discus, and javelin with ease. His javelin performance was the highlight—a monstrous 51.12-metre throw that shattered a meet record set back in 2005 by former Lion Ben Engel. That throw currently leads the Ontario rankings. Baetz also cruised to victory in the discus with a 40.68m toss—over six metres ahead of the next closest athlete—and held off a strong challenge from Ty Taylor in the shot put to win 13.61m to 13.36m. 

Gardiner Dominates Jumps in Triple Gold Performance

Roxy Gardiner made the sand fly in her triple-gold performance, sweeping the junior girls’ long jump, triple jump, and high jump. Her most dominant showing came in the triple jump, where she soared 10.97 metres—nearly two metres clear of the field and just two centimetres shy of a 24-year-old meet record. The mark also moves the Grade 10 standout into 10th place on the Ottawa Lions’ all-time U18 list. Gardiner added titles in the long jump (5.07m—the only competitor to surpass five metres) and high jump (1.35m), proving herself one of the most versatile talents on the runway.

Mackay Breaks Hurdles Mark, Leads Holy Trinity Relay Teams

Norah Nitta Mackay’s day was highlighted by a record-breaking run in the junior girls’ 300m hurdles. The Grade 10 student from Holy Trinity crossed the line in 46.06 seconds, besting the previous record of 46.62 set in 2012. She also claimed the 400m title in 1:01.25 and aided her school’s junior girls 4x100m relay to victory. Mackay’s efforts helped Holy Trinity secure second place in the open 4x400m relay, capping a busy and productive meet for the Grade 10 standout.

McGinnity Nearly Breaks 400m Record in Middle Distance Double

Grade 9 standout Declan McGinnity made an immediate impression with wins in both the novice boys’ 400 and 800 metres. Running in a class of his own, the All Saints student nearly erased a 47-year-old meet record in the 400m, stopping the clock at 52.64—just 0.34 seconds off the mark. The time also ranks third all-time among U16 Lions. He returned to dominate the 800m, running away from the field to win by six seconds in 2:13.86.

Next Stop: NCSSAA Championships

With the West Conference Championships in the books, qualified athletes now set their sights on next week’s NCSSAA Championships, where city titles and advancement to the OFSAA East Regionals will be on the line. The road to the OFSAA provincial championships continues to run through Ottawa, and these Lions look ready to roar.

Full results from the West Conference meet are available at: ottawalions.com

(Ottawa, Canada---14 May 2025) Stephan Balson of Lisgar C.I. - Ottawa competes at the NCSSAA East Conference Track and Field Championships. Photograph Copyright 2025 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Records Fall as Lions Dominate NCSSAA East Championships

by High Schoollinkinbio

Ottawa Lions athletes put on a commanding display at the NCSSAA East Conference Track and Field Championships on Wednesday, combining record-breaking performances with provincial-leading marks. With over 80 Lions finishing among the top eight athletes in their respective event, they earned their place at next week’s NCSSAA Championships at Terry Fox Athletic Facility, and for many of them, qualification was just the beginning.

One of the top performances of the day came from Stephan Balson, who broke a 14-year-old meet record in the senior boys’ 400 metres. The Lisgar Collegiate standout stopped the clock in 47.49 seconds, eclipsing the 2010 mark of 48.98 set by former national U20 team member Devin Bicocchi. Balson also won the 200m in 21.73—just shy of Olympian Oluwasegun Makinde’s record of 21.62—and the 100m in 10.75, narrowly missing both his personal best (10.71) and the 1997 meet record of 10.65.

After missing last year’s high school season after switching schools, Jorai Oppong-Nketiah delivered yet another impressive showing – winning the senior girls’ 100m, clocking 11.96 (+0.2). Jorai’s performance bettered the previous meet record of 12.02 set by Louis-Riel alumna Kayla Vieux in 2019.

In the field, Mallea McMullin launched a meet-record throw of 39.87 metres in the junior girls’ javelin, breaking a 50-year-old record set in 1974 by Cathy Knight (38.08m). McMullin, the defending Canadian U16 girls champion, now owns the farthest throw in Ontario this spring among junior girls—more than four metres ahead of the next-best mark.

Ellie McGregor of Immaculata was in dominant form in the junior girls’ middle distances. She broke the 20-year-old meet record in the 800m with a winning time of 2:13.85, surpassing the previous mark of 2:17.97 held by Lion alum Danelle Woods. McGregor also cruised to victory in the 400m, clocking 59.88 to win by three seconds.

In the novice boys division, Maxime Cazabon sprinted to a meet-record 11.20 (+1.9) in the 100m heats. Though a tight hamstring slowed him in the final, he still managed to take top spot and better the previous record of 11.57 again – crossing in 11.33. Cazabon also advanced in the high jump, clearing 1.60 metres to finish in a tie for second.

Charlie Mortimer picked up the win in the open boys 2000m steeplechase, pulling away from Colonel By’s Owen Siderius to win by nearly five seconds. His time of 6:15.76 not only ranks ninth all-time among U18 Lions but also stood as the third-fastest in Ontario this season as of Wednesday night. Mortimer later added a strong fourth-place finish in the senior boys’ 3000m.

In that 3000m final, Daniel Cova showed the form that made him the OFSAA cross country champion. The Louis-Riel senior dominated the race, pulling away from training partner Saul Taler to win by nearly 20 seconds. Cova will look to end his high school career on a high note before heading to Iona University this fall. Taler, meanwhile, got the better of Cova in their earlier head-to-head, winning a tactical senior boys’ 1500m in 4:11.21 to Cova’s 4:12.69—a modest pace for two of the region’s most accomplished distance runners.

Other notable club performances came from Taisei Tan and Matilda Edwards, who both added to the Lions’ medal haul. Tan claimed victory in the senior boys’ 110m hurdles, clocking 14.49 (+0.5) to move into fifth place on the Club’s all-time U18 rankings. Edwards placed fifth in the open girls’ 2000m steeplechase with a time of 9:14.05, the 10th fastest ever by a U16 Lion. She also showcased her range by winning the novice girls’ triple jump, closing out a strong day across multiple disciplines..

With momentum building and top performances across the board, the Lions head into the NCSSAA Championships next week with eyes on OFSAA qualification—and perhaps more history to be made.

Full results are available on our website.

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Lions Athletes Shine at Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge

by High Schoollinkinbio

After a week of training under the sun in what has become an annual pilgrimage to South Carolina, Ottawa Lions athletes kicked off their outdoor season with a strong showing at the Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge, posting multiple personal bests and top finishes.

Leading the way was Daniel Cova, who delivered a pair of standout performances – taking top spot in the1500 metres and capturing a bronze over 3000 metres. The future Iona University student eclipsed the four-minute barrier for the first time, taking victory in a time of 3 minutes and 59.27 seconds. At 3000 metres, Cova took home bronze and another personal best with a time of 8:36.55 – to move to 16th on the Club’s all-time U20 list.

Teammate Mikel Fortier also excelled at 1500 and 3000 metres, posting new lifetime bests in both events. Fortier, became the 24th U18 athlete in Club history to break 9 minutes for 3000m when he placed 14th in 8:59.15. At 1500m, Fortier won bronze behind Cova, running a personal-best 4:14.56.

Coming off a strong indoor season, Ellie McGregor demonstrated she’s well positioned to excel this spring on the high school circuit. The grade 10 student at Immaculata placed 13th in the Collegiate section of the 400 metres in a speedy 57.96 seconds – just three hundredths off her personal best. Teammate Shannon Dewar finished 22nd in 59.38 seconds and earlier won the open section of the 800 meters in 2:20.91, trimming nearly four seconds from her previous best.

Sprinter Livia Buffone also produced a pair of impressive results in both of the short sprints. Buffone opened with an impressive early season personal best of 12.89 seconds in the 100 metres – leading the Lions’ women. As a follow up, she trimmed a half second off her previous best at 200 metres, placing 30th in the Collegiate section in 26.84 seconds. 

Relays provided another highlight for the Lions, as the men’s 4×800-meter relay team of Brennan Lee, Charlie Mortimer, Mikel Fortier, and Daniel Cova combined for a time of 8:13.33, securing a strong seventh-place finish. In addition to the impressive finish, the time ranks as the fourth fastest among U20 men in Club history. The 4×200 relay team of Jonah Gratton, Jesse Costanzo, Xavier Placid, Jamie Meikle also ran their way into the top-10 rankings. The quartet placed 13th in the Collegiate men’s relay with a time of 1:32.30 – the seventh fastest for a U20 relay team in Club history.

With the outdoor season now underway, the Ottawa Lions’ athletes have set a high standard, and their performances in Myrtle Beach signal an exciting path ahead as they prepare for the high school and summer seasons.

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Lions Look to Make a Statement in Myrtle Beach Season Opener

by High Schoollinkinbio

More than 30 high school athletes from the Ottawa Lions have spent the past week training under the South Carolina sun, preparing for the outdoor season at a camp that has become an annual tradition. Now, after days of intensive workouts, they will put their training to the test at the Myrtle Beach Collegiate Challenge.

Among the notable competitors is Daniel Cova, who returns to the track for the first time since capturing OFSAA gold in cross country and leading the U18 boys to a bronze medal at the Canadian Championships. Known for his prowess in the steeplechase, the Louis-Riel student is set to race in the 1500 and 3000 meters, as well as the 4×800-meter relay. Cova, who holds personal bests of 4:00.00 in the 1500m and 8:44.56 in the 3000m, will be looking to translate his endurance and closing speed into a strong season opener.

Charlie Mortimer, a winner in last year’s open mile event, will be stepping up in distance this weekend, joining Cova in the 3000 meters. Mortimer, who owns a personal best of 8:48.87 in the 3000m, will be aiming to test his strength over the longer race and build momentum for the outdoor season.

On the sprints side, Ellie McGregor will compete in the 400 meters, where she holds a personal best of 57.93. The Immaculata student last raced at the Ravens Last Chance meet, where she clocked 1:34.62 in the 600 meters, moving to fourth on the club’s all-time list—suggesting a strong speed endurance base she will be looking to exploit in her 400m opener.

Amy LeBlanc is also set for a strong showing following an indoor season that saw her set personal bests of 7.99 in the 60 meters and 42.78 in the 300 meters. This weekend, she will look to challenge her outdoor marks of 12.37 in the 100 meters and 25.54 in the 200 meters.

With a mix of returning athletes and fresh talent, the Ottawa Lions are poised to make an impact as they open their outdoor campaign in Myrtle Beach.

For live results, visit Snap Timing.