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Jeggo Makes World U20 Semifinals in Team Canada Debut

by Internationallinkinbio

EUGENE, Ore. — For Zachary Jeggo, the road to his first international competition had already included a missed opportunity.

Named to Canada’s team for the World Athletics Relays in Botswana earlier this year, the 19-year-old from Embrun never got to take the track after lingering hamstring issues from the indoor season kept him from competing. Months later, at Hayward Field, Jeggo finally got his chance to wear the maple leaf — and he made the most of it.

Competing at the World Athletics U20 Championships last week, Jeggo advanced to the semifinals of the men’s 400m in his international debut, while also serving as a co-captain of the Canadian team and anchoring the country’s 4x400m relay.

It was a week that tested him, but one that Jeggo left with plenty to celebrate.

He opened his 400m campaign with a fourth-place finish in his heat, running 47.33 seconds to advance on time from the seventh and final heat. The result came at the expense of Canadian teammate Adam Nyarko, who was the first non-qualifier.

Just five and a half hours later, Jeggo was back on the track for the semifinal, but the quick turnaround proved challenging. He finished in 49.15 seconds after cramping in the opening stages, well off the 46.62 Canadian Indoor U20 record he had set earlier this season.

“I cramped up in the first 100 metres and tried my best to finish. It is what it is. I’m super happy to make it. I got to the semis, finished higher than I could when I came in, so it’s top 25 in the world. I’m super happy with that and there’s a lot coming and all my career ahead of me,” Jeggo said.

For an athlete whose season had already been defined by both setback and breakthrough, the semifinal appearance represented another important step forward.

Jeggo’s Canadian U20 record of 46.62 came earlier this year, but his season was interrupted when he was injured at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. That injury ultimately kept him out of the World Athletics Relays in Botswana, meaning Eugene marked his first opportunity to compete internationally.

He embraced the opportunity beyond the individual 400m, taking on a leadership role as one of Canada’s co-captains and anchoring the 4x400m relay.

Jeggo, Nyarko, William Tapodi and Ryan Georgeson finished seventh in their heat on Saturday in 3:13.28, finishing 19th overall. The race was made more difficult almost immediately after Jeggo received the baton, when he was forced to leap over an Indian runner who had impeded him in his lane.

“We got boxed in by India and South Africa and speed was gone and I pretty much hit a wall. I was able to reel Italy in back at the end, there wasn’t much we could do,” Jeggo said.

Despite the frustrations, Jeggo left Eugene proud of the experience and of the team he represented.

“Super grateful to have repped the leaf at the World Championships as well as being captain for an incredible group,” he wrote in a social media post following the competition.

Former Lion Carolin Evers was also in Eugene, representing her native Germany in the women’s high jump. 

The 18-year-old cleared 1.72m in qualifying, falling short of the 1.83m season best that earned her a place on the German team in June. She did not advance to the final.

Despite the result, Evers embraced the experience of competing on the world stage.

“Not the result I was hoping for, but still proud to have been part of such an amazing experience,” she wrote in a social media post.

(Ottawa, Canada---19 June 2026) /Zachary Jeggo/ at the Canadian Track and Field Championships Presented by Bell at the Tery Fox Athletic Facility at Mooney’s Bay. Copyright 2026 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Canadian U20 400m Champ Jeggo Takes Global Stage at Hayward Field

by Internationallinkinbio

EUGENE, Ore. — Two athletes with Ottawa Lions ties will compete at the World Athletics U20 Championships this week, as the biennial global meet for junior athletes returns to the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field from Aug. 5 to 9.

Zachary Jeggo will carry the Lions banner into the men’s 400 metres and is expected to feature for a Canadian 4×400-metre relay team. The 19-year-old from Embrun, won the U20 400-metre title at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Ottawa this June to earn his place on the national team. The Simon Fraser University student also holds the Canadian U20 indoor record over the distance, becoming the first Canadian teenager to break 47 seconds indoors when he clocked 46.72 in February at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships in Spokane, Wash. Jeggo enters the Championship with an outdoor personal best of 46.62 set in London, Ont., in June 2025. He has also been named a captain of the Canadian team for the championships.

Jeggo faces a deep field in Eugene. Four entrants in the men’s 400 metres have run under 45 seconds, including Americans Jayden DeLeon (World U20 #3) and 2024 Olympic relay gold medallist Quincy Wilson (World U20 #4).

Also competing at Hayward Field is Carolin Evers, who was a Lions member during the 2024-25 season while completing an exchange program. Though Evers competed just once in club colours, her clearance of 1.66 metres in the high jump ranked third all-time among the Lions’ U18 athletes. The 18-year-old will represent her native Germany in Eugene, where she carries a season’s best of 1.83 metres, a personal record she set in June to qualify for the championships.

The championships mark the return of the event to Eugene for the first time since 2014, when the meet was known as the IAAF World Junior Championships. On that occasion the Lions were represented by Erinn Stenman-Fahey, who advanced to the semifinals of the women’s 800 metres.

More than 1,800 athletes from around the world are entered across the five-day program.

Schedule (all times Eastern)

Zachary Jeggo — 400m
Round 1 — Thursday, Aug. 6, 4:45 p.m.
Semifinals — Thursday, Aug. 6, 10:44 p.m.
Final — Friday, Aug. 7, 11:53 p.m.

Men’s 4x400m Relay (Jeggo expected to feature)
Round 1 — Saturday, Aug. 8, 2:20 p.m.
Final — Sunday, Aug. 9, 5:55 p.m.

Carolin Evers — High Jump
Qualification — Friday, Aug. 7, 2:05 p.m.
Final — Sunday, Aug. 9, 3:30 p.m.

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Eighteen years on, Makinde returns to a Commonwealth podium — as a guide runner

by Internationallinkinbio

GLASGOW — Eighteen years after he won bronze at the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India, Oluwasegun Makinde stood on a Commonwealth podium again. This time he had not run his own race.

Makinde, a 35-year-old sprinter and two-time Olympian, served as guide runner for visually impaired sprinter George Quarcoo in the men’s 100-metre T11/T12 final, the pair crossing in 11.06 seconds for third place. It was the only medal among four Ottawa Lions athletes at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The result closed a long Commonwealth arc for Makinde, who was twice named to Canadian teams as a sprinter — Glasgow in 2014 and the Gold Coast in 2018 — before returning to the same Scottish city in a new role. He and Quarcoo have been running together for just over a year.

“That was a dream come true,” said Quarcoo, who runs for Eclipse Track and Field and began losing his vision at age nine. “Exactly eight years ago is where it started, at the Commonwealth Games in Australia. We came here with one mission — to execute and handle business, and that’s exactly what we did.”

“It’s incredible,” Makinde said of the collective bronze medal effort. “It’s a bit of redemption from 2018 [where Quaracoo did not advance to the final]. I’m happy to help him achieve his goals. It has been many years in the making.”

Making her first global final, Lauren Gale capped a remarkable summer with a seventh-place finish in the women’s 400m, crossing the line in 52.01 seconds as wind and cool temperatures created conditions more reminiscent of a fall cross country meet than the first day of August.

For the two-time Olympian, the result brought a strong close to a summer that has already included her first victories at both the Pan American Championships and Canadian Championships, adding another major international final to an increasingly impressive résumé.

Despite the challenging conditions, Gale remained focused on the task at hand.

“It’s always exciting to be in a final. Very happy to be here,” Gale said. “It’s a little cold, a little windy, but we’re all running in the same conditions, and I just had to execute my race.”

Maëliss Trapeau battled through injury to reach the semifinals of the women’s 800m, finishing eighth in her semifinal section in 2:02.42 after advancing from the opening round in 2:03.89.

Trapeau’s path to the start line was far from straightforward. In a social media post following her semifinal, the 26-year-old revealed that a calf strain and significant Achilles tendinitis in the week leading into the Games had disrupted her preparation and left her uncertain whether she would be able to compete.

“Ten days ago, I wasn’t even sure I would make it to the start line,” Trapeau wrote, crediting the Canadian medical team for helping her get to the track. “Not the performance I was aiming for, but a race I’m proud to have been able to run given the circumstances.”

David Moulongou rounded out the Lions’ individual competition with a fifth-place finish in his men’s 400m hurdles semifinal, running 51.00 seconds.

The 23-year-old University of Ottawa student and reigning Canadian champion has enjoyed a breakthrough season, breaking a 36-year-old Lions club record in the spring before lowering his personal best to 49.92 at the Royal City Inferno in Guelph, Ont. The performance moved him to 10th on the Canadian all-time list.

“It was my first major international competition,” Moulongou said. “I would’ve hoped to do a lot better, but this was a very valiant and gutsy race.”

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Four Lions Set for Commonwealth Games Competition in Glasgow

by Internationallinkinbio

OTTAWA — Competition begins Monday at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, and the Ottawa Lions will have plenty to cheer for on the track. David Moulongou, Maëliss Trapeau and Lauren Gale will all race for Canada at Scotstoun Stadium, while Segun Makinde will guide Para sprinter George Quarcoo of Eclipse Track & Field in the T12 100 metres.

This edition of the Games looks a little different than usual. Glasgow stepped in as a late replacement host after original host Victoria, Australia withdrew in 2023. The result is a leaner, more condensed version of the Games. The athletics program runs from Monday, July 27 through Saturday, August 1, with the broader Games continuing through August 2.

David Moulongou — Men’s 400m Hurdles

Moulongou enters his first Commonwealth Games in the form of his life. The 23-year-old University of Ottawa student broke a 36-year-old club record in the 400m hurdles at the season-opening Ottawa Spring Kick Start, then kept chasing it down all spring — eventually running 49.92 at the Royal City Inferno in Guelph, a mark that moved him to 10th on the Canadian all-time list and comfortably inside the Commonwealth Games qualifying standard. David enters the Games as the reigning Canadian champion, his first senior national title.

Maëliss Trapeau — Women’s 800m

Trapeau first pulled on a Lions singlet as a 12-year-old and will race in Glasgow nearly 15 years later. Born in France and raised in Ottawa from age five, she ran collegiately and academically at the University of Ottawa before moving to Europe to chase her running career, competing internationally for France as a junior. She switched her international allegiance back to Canada in 2025 and immediately won the Canadian 800m title, then broke 1:59 for the first time with a personal-best 1:58.90 at the World Championships in Tokyo — the best World Championship showing by a Lions athlete since Tim Nedow’s ninth-place shot put finish in 2019. Glasgow will be her Commonwealth Games debut.

Lauren Gale — Women’s 400m

A two-time Olympian, Gale’s international career traces back to the Commonwealth Games family: she first represented Canada at the 2017 Youth Commonwealth Games, an experience she has credited with sparking her Olympic ambitions. This June, racing through a downpour at the Canadian Championships in Ottawa, she won her first senior national title after two previous runner-up finishes — punching her ticket to Glasgow for her first senior Commonwealth Games.

Segun Makinde — Guide 100m T12

Makinde is a familiar name to Lions fans in his own right: the University of Ottawa alum was a member of Canada’s 2012 and 2016 Olympic teams and competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games as a sprinter. These Games, he’ll guide George Quarcoo of Eclipse Track & Field in the T12 100 metres. Quarcoo, a Ghanaian-born Canadian who began losing his vision at age nine, is no stranger to this stage either — he raced at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Fans can stream every session of the Games — including all track events — live and on demand on CBC Gem, free with a signed-in account.

Schedule (All times Eastern)

Everything beyond Round 1 is pending qualification.

Monday, July 27

  • David Moulongou — 400m Hurdles, Round 1 — 5:10 a.m.
  • Maëliss Trapeau — 800m, Round 1 — 2:15 p.m.

Tuesday, July 28

  • Lauren Gale — 400m, Round 1 — 5:30 a.m.

Wednesday, July 29

  • Oluwasegun Makinde (guide) — 100m T12, Round 1 — 7:33 a.m.
  • David Moulongou — 400m Hurdles, Semi-Final — 2:33 p.m.
  • Maëliss Trapeau — 800m, Semi-Final — 2:47 p.m.

Thursday, July 30

  • Lauren Gale — 400m, Semi-Final — 7:45 a.m.
  • Oluwasegun Makinde (guide) — 100m T12, Final — 2:45 p.m.

Friday, July 31

  • Maëliss Trapeau — 800m, Final — 3:25 p.m.
  • David Moulongou — 400m Hurdles, Final — 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, August 1

  • Lauren Gale — 400m, Final — 7:20 a.m.
(Ottawa, Canada---09 May 2026) David Moulongou competes in the Ottawa Spring Kick Start at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Copyright 2026 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Moulongou Cracks Canadian Top 10 as Lions Shine Along Highway 401

by Internationallinkinbio

David Moulongou continued his remarkable early-season form last week as Ottawa Lions athletes produced a series of standout performances across three World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meets in southern Ontario.

Competing at the Bob Vigars Classic in London, the Royal City Inferno in Guelph, and the Johnny Loaring Classic in Windsor, Lions athletes combined for club records, personal bests, national-level performances and championship standards while travelling up and down Highway 401.

Moulongou delivered the performance of the week at the Royal City Inferno, clocking 49.92 in the 400-metre hurdles to break his own club record for the third time this season. The performance moved him to 10th on the Canadian all-time list and comfortably under the Commonwealth Games qualifying standard.

The University of Ottawa athlete opened the week with a 46.76 over 400m in London – the fourth-fastest performance in Club history – before closing the series with another impressive hurdles performance in Windsor, finishing third in 50.15, the second-fastest race of his career.

Moulongou was not the only Lion producing world-class performances.

Lauren Gale opened her week in Guelph, racing in a field that looked more like a Canadian championship final than an early-season meet. The two-time Olympian finished third in 51.95 behind national team members Diana Proctor and Zoe Sherar. Gale returned to Windsor three days later and turned the tables, taking victory in 51.97 as she continues her preparation for next week’s Canadian Track and Field Championships in Ottawa.

Middle-distance runner Safwan El Mansari continued his ascension over 800m in Windsor, running a personal best 1:49.91 to finish third in the strong field. The performance moved him to seventh on the Club’s all-time U23 list.

Stephen Evans also dipped under 1:50, running a season’s best 1:49.68 in Guelph, while Amy Stieh recorded a personal best 2:11.63 in the women’s 800 metres in London.

Several Lions athletes posted notable performances in the sprints and jumps.

Maria Okwechime opened her outdoor season in London with a 5.94-metre leap to finish second in the long jump. David Adeleye was third in the 110-metre hurdles with an all-conditions personal best of 13.80 (+2.2 m/s) before returning in Windsor to place second against a stronger field in 14.04.

Luca Nicoletti enjoyed a breakthrough weekend in Windsor, recording personal bests in both sprint events. The McGill standout ran 21.37 for second in the 200 metres before returning to finish third in the 400 metres in 48.78.

Rose Basu also doubled up on the podium, running a personal best 12.09 for second in the 100 metres before narrowly missing another personal best in the 200 metres, finishing second in 24.94.

Sharelle Samuel rounded out the weekend with a season’s best 55.89 in the 400 metres, her fastest performance since 2022.

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GALE, TRAPEAU NAMED TO TEAM CANADA FOR INAUGURAL PAN AMERICAN SENIOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

by Internationallinkinbio

OTTAWA — Lauren Gale and Maëliss Trapeau have been named to Team Canada for the first-ever Pan American Senior Athletics Championships, Athletics Canada announced Thursday. The two Ottawa Lions athletes will travel to Medellín, Colombia, where the championships are scheduled for June 26-28.

The Lions will have a strong presence throughout the competition. Ottawa Lions coach Glenroy Gilbert will lead the Canadian squad.

“There are all kinds of things that a competition like this can benefit our athletes,” Gilbert said in a statement released by Athletics Canada. “There are ranking results on the line to help athletes get into some of the Diamond Leagues later in the summer. It is a high-level competition, so you want to perform at a high level. That’s primarily what our focus is when we select our teams — we’re looking at a team that can perform at a high level.”

The championships come at a busy time for the Lions program. Ottawa hosts the 2026 Canadian Track and Field Championships just days before the Pan American competition gets underway in Colombia.

Gale brings relay momentum into historic meet

Gale enters the championships as Canada’s top-ranked 400-metre runner this season, riding a wave of confidence after helping Canada win bronze in the 4×400-metre relay at the World Relays in Botswana earlier this month. The two-time Olympian and multiple World Championships competitor has never before represented Canada at the senior Pan American level, making this a milestone appearance despite her extensive international résumé.

Gale did compete at the Pan American level earlier in her career, representing Canada at the 2019 Pan American U20 Championships in San José, Costa Rica, where she ran the 400 metres and helped set a national under-20 record in the 4×400 relay while finishing second.

“I’ve never been a part of a Pan Am team so I’m really excited to compete in a meet at that level,” Gale said. “It is an honour to be selected and to compete against some of the best athletes in the world.”

Gale said her strong relay showing last month has her primed heading into the summer.

“I’m feeling good coming off World Relays. It was a great meet for all of us and has definitely boosted my confidence. My goal is always to execute my own race and run fast — especially while representing Canada. It’s always an honour and I am looking forward to a fast meet.”

Trapeau opens outdoor season in style

Trapeau, a University of Ottawa graduate, is headed to Medellín after a statement opening to her 2026 outdoor season. She finished third in an 800-metre race in Italy on Wednesday in 2:00.39 — the fastest outdoor opener of her career.

The selection follows a breakthrough 2025 campaign in which Trapeau claimed her first national title on home soil before representing Canada at the World Championships in Tokyo. There, she posted a personal best of 1:58.90 to finish sixth in her semifinal — the sixth-fastest time ever recorded by a Canadian woman in the event.

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Gale Leads Canada to Bronze at World Relays in Gaborone

by Internationallinkinbio

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

by Internationallinkinbio

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Watch live on CBC Gem

(Ottawa, Canada---03 August 2025) /Zachary Jeggo/ competes on Day 5 of the Canadian Track and Field Championships presented by Bell at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Copyright 2025 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Jeggo, Gale Named to Team Canada for World Relays in Botswana

by Internationallinkinbio

OTTAWA — Two Ottawa Lions athletes will represent Canada on the global stage next month, as Zachary Jeggo and Lauren Gale were named to the national team for the upcoming World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana.

For the veteran Gale, Wednesday’s selection marks her third consecutive selection to the World Relays. In contrast, Jeggo’s appointment represents a breakthrough moment — his first national team selection at any level, and another stepping stone in a remarkable freshman campaign at Simon Fraser University.

“I was really surprised,” Jeggo said via email following the Athletics Canada announcement. “A senior national team wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card, that’s for sure. I called one of my closest buddies first to break the news, and honestly, I just couldn’t believe it.”

The honours continued through the day for the first-year standout, who was recognized later Wednesday as both Male Freshman of the Year and Lorne Davies Male Athlete of the Year for Individual Sport at Simon Fraser, following an exceptional debut season.

Jeggo described the day as “hectic” and “pretty surreal,” after being named to Team Canada and earning multiple major awards at Simon Fraser. He credited his teammates and friends for their support, adding that he was grateful to share the moment with them.

Jeggo’s rise has been one of the most compelling stories of the indoor season. Competing in the 400 metres, the Ottawa native announced himself on the national stage earlier this year with a Canadian U20 indoor record performance of 46.72 seconds at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships — a time that positioned him among the top young quarter-milers in the country.

His progression from club standout to NCAA contributor has been rapid, but representing Canada marks a new level.

“Honestly, it means everything,” Jeggo said of his appointment. “I’m glad to be Canadian and to now represent the country at one of the biggest stages, which really means a lot to me. I always trained with the hope of someday making it, and now it’s about to become a reality.”

Set to compete in a relay environment, Jeggo will make the transition from individual racing to team competition — a dynamic he embraces.

“I think the aspect of having a team is something unique in this sport,” he said. “For once, you aren’t just running for yourself but the other three people on the team. For me, I just want to do my job and get the baton around the oval as quickly as possible to give my teammates and I a shot at winning.”

The World Relays will also serve as a key stepping stone as he builds toward a possible spot on Team Canada at the World U20 Championships later this summer.

“I just want to go out there and compete to the best of my ability and show why I’ve been selected,” Jeggo said of his selection to the mixed 4x400m pool. “Gaining that experience will help me better myself as an athlete and a person as well. Anything can happen over the course of the season, and there is tons of good competition, so hopefully I can keep the ball rolling and make that U20 team.”

While Jeggo prepares for his international debut, Gale returns to familiar territory as one of Canada’s most experienced relay contributors in the 4x400m. The Ottawa Lions veteran has been a consistent presence on national teams since 2021 when she was named to her first Olympic team.

At last year’s event in China, Gale was instrumental in helping both the women’s and mixed 4×400 metre relay squads qualify for the World Championships in Tokyo. 

“Excited and always honoured to represent Canada at a World event,” Gale shared in a recent social media post following the announcement. “Here’s a preview — coming to you soon Botswana.”

With a blend of emerging talent and veteran leadership, the Lions duo will look to make their mark in Gaborone, where strong performances could punch Canada’s ticket to either this year’s World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest or next year’s World Athletics Championships in Beijing.

(Montreal, Canada---24 January 2026) /Maxime Cazabon of Ottawa Lions/ at the McGill Team Challenge held in the Tomlinson Fieldhouse on the campus of McGill University . Copyright 2026 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Cazabon Smashes Ontario Record in Pentathlon Debut to Lead Lions

by InternationallinkinbioProvincialUniversity

OTTAWA — A record-breaking performance from rising talent Maxime Cazabon highlighted a strong finish to the indoor season for the Ottawa Lions, as athletes delivered standout performances across provincial, national and international stages.

Cazabon turned heads at the Ontario Indoor Combined Events Championships in Toronto, capturing the U18 pentathlon title in his debut in the discipline. The Grade 10 standout amassed 3,366 points — a new Ontario U17 record — surpassing the previous mark of 3,134 set in 1999.

Long recognized for his jumping prowess, Cazabon showcased his versatility across all five disciplines, winning four of the five events contested. He recorded four lifetime best performances on the day and matched his seasonal best in the high jump at 1.91 metres — the second-highest clearance in Canada this season in the U18 category.

The previous weekend at the Ontario U16 and U20 Championships, Penny Roy continued her steady progression in the race walk, capturing gold in the U16 1500-metre event. The 14-year-old clocked a personal best of 9:14.26.

On the international stage, Maëliss Trapeau represented Canada at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland, narrowly missing out on a place in the semifinals of the women’s 800 metres. Trapeau crossed the line in 2:03.78, finishing just 0.58 seconds shy of advancing from her heat. The performance builds on her momentum from last season, where she reached the semifinals at the outdoor world championships.

Meanwhile, in the United States, Quinn Coughlin opened her outdoor campaign in impressive fashion at the Jack Christiansen Invitational. The first-year Colorado State athlete claimed victory in the 400-metre hurdles in 1:01.31 — the fastest season-opening performance of her career and the fourth-fastest time overall.