20231221_AC_Coach_Announcement

Four Lions Coaches to Represent Canada in 2024

by Internationallinkinbio

Congratulations to Lions coaches Glenroy Gilbert, Leslie Estwick, Darrin Reesal, and Gordon Cavé on recently being named to Team Canada positions for the 2024 competition year.

Gilbert, as Athletics Canada’s Head Coach, will lead the national senior team in to multiple championships in 2024 culminating with the Olympic Games in Paris next August.

For the the first time in our Club history, the Lions will have three coaches representing Canada at the World Athletics U20 Championships.

A national team veteran, Estwick, will lead the jumps group at the Championship.

The World U20 Championships will be Gordon Cavé’s third national team assignment. He previously served as a sprints coach at the 2022 NACAC Senior Championships and was scheduled to be on the staff at the 2023 World University Games before Canada pulled it’s entry.

For long time throws coach Darrin Reesal, this will be his first national team assignment. However, Reesal is no stranger to international competition as he served as Tim Nedow’s personal coach for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Congratulations to all four coaches on their well earned assignments!

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Christie-Galloway and Evans finish 8th and 12th respectively at Pan American Games

by Internationallinkinbio

The 19th edition of the Pan American Games concluded on a chilly Sunday evening at Parque Bicentenario in Santiago, Chile. This two-week multi-sport extravaganza saw Canada achieve its second-best medal haul in a non-home Games, with two standout athletes, Keira Christie-Galloway and Stephen Evans, using the platform as a stepping stone towards the upcoming Olympic Games.

Keira Christie-Galloway, a talented hurdler, was the first to hit the track in Santiago. She delivered a solid performance during the 100-meter hurdle semi-final on Halloween night. Qualifying for the final, Keira finished third in her race with a time of 13.36 seconds.

Following her heat, Keira shared her thoughts with Martin Cleary of Ottawa Sport Pages, saying, “I felt good. I went into the race thinking I’ll run my own race and execute. I got out and had a clean race.”

However, the following night presented a stark contrast in weather conditions, as temperatures dropped by 10 degrees Celsius to a chilly 11 degrees, accompanied by rain. In a race where none of the runners managed to break the 13-second barrier, Keira finished in 8th place with a time of 13.60 seconds.

Last Friday night, it was Stephen Evans’ turn to shine. Competing for Canada for the first time, the 800-meter club record holder showcased his talents on the international stage, securing a fourth-place finish in the first of three semi-finals.

As the runners hit the bell lap, Evans was only two-tenths of a second behind the leader. Despite making strong surges in the final 200 meters, the 27-year-old couldn’t secure one of the two automatic qualifying positions, finishing with a time of 1 minute and 48.98 seconds. Evans’ result would place him 12th overall in the final standings.

The performances from Keira and Stephen at the Pan American Games serve as a promising indication of their potential in the lead-up to next summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

(Langley, Canada---28 July 2023) Keira Christie-Galloway competing on day two of the Canadian Track and Field Championships at the MacLeod Athletic Park Stadium. Copyright 2023 Miles Ryan Rowat/ Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Christie-Galloway set to cap off long season at Pan Am Games

by Internationallinkinbio

333 days. That’s how many days it’s been since Keira Christie-Galloway stepped on to the track at Clemson University to open her 2022-23 competition season. Tonight she steps on to the track in the Julio Martinez National Stadium in Santiago, Chile for the opening round of the 100 metre hurdles at the Pan American Games. 

For Keira, by all accounts, this competition year has been a long one, but she’s found the necessary balance to feel rested heading into her second Pan Am Games, while still staying sharp. She attributes much of her preparation to mental strength and just showing up everyday as well as taking the necessary space to do the things she enjoys on the weekend.

“It is important to have balance,” says Christie-Galloway of her approach to this long season. ”For me that looks like cooking and baking, which has helped me ground myself in preparation for the games.”

She admits that she is looking forward to taking some time to rest after a long season that has seen her step into the starting blocks nearly 30 times.

As a graduate student-athlete at Grand Canyon University in Arizona, Keira re-wrote the Antelopes record book in what was her final year of NCAA competition. The Arizona State graduate broke the GCU indoor hurdles mark in February with a run of 8.17 seconds that equalled her four-year old best. Outdoors got even faster as she blazed her way to a time of a lifetime best of 13.01 to win the Western Athletic Conference outdoor title. 

After qualifying for her second NCAA Championship, Keira’s summer season remained relatively quiet in the lead-up to Santiago. Just two races at the Canadian Championships in Langley, where she finished fourth.

While not competing, she did have the opportunity to join her partner Turner Washington at the World Championships in Hungary. Washington was a member of Team USA in the discus after placing second at their national championships. 

Sharing Turner’s experiences throughout the season and witnessing his achievement of competing at the World Championships has been a valuable source of inspiration and support for Keira in her preparations for Santiago. 

“We have leaned on each other a lot this past season and I have been able to accomplish a lot with his support.”

As she heads into tonight’s race, Keira can draw upon her past experiences. Four years ago in Lima, Peru she was the youngest member of Canada’s athletics team at just 19 years old. She says her take away from the Championship was to run her own race and be confident in her own abilities.

Keira’s semi-final is scheduled for 5:25 pm Eastern, where she will be running to qualify for Wednesday’s final.

“I hope to take in this opportunity and really cherish the memories I will be making.”

You can watch Keira compete live on CBC Gem.

Copyright Brian Rouble/Shuttered Moments

Cassidy finishes 5th in Chicago Marathon

by InternationallinkinbioUniversity

While the fall conjures up ideas of a cross country season, it also features some top notch road racing opportunities. Making a good use of one of those opportunities was Joshua Cassidy who rolled his way to a fifth place finish in the Chicago Marathon. 

With a time of 1:33:29, Cassidy put up his fastest marathon performance since 2019, finishing less than two minutes off the podium. The two-time Paralympian will be at it again Sunday morning as he takes to the streets of Toronto for the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon where he will be looking to defend his title from a year ago. 

In cross country, Maddie Seaby helped her Louisville Cardinals to an 11th place finish on Friday at the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas. Seaby, who is in her first year with the Cardinals, finished the six kilometre course in a time of 20 minutes and 51.5 seconds to place 64th overall in the field of 385. 

Staying south of the border, Louise Stonham placed 15th this morning at the Highlander Invitational in Riverside, California. Stonham completed the six kilometre run in 20 minutes and 51.8 seconds to help Long Beach State University to the women’s team title. 

Closer to home, Elizabeth Vroom helped the Queen’s Gaels to fourth place finish at the Bayfront Open in Hamilton. Vroom was the second scorer for the Gaels, placing 21st over the eight kilometre course. Freya Hurst was 65th overall for the Gaels. 

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Robertson wins NACAC U23 steeplechase title

by Internationallinkinbio

Standing atop the podium, clad in red and white. The loud speakers belting out the best instrumental version of “O’ Canada”.  It’s the moment most athletes in Canada aspire to realise. On Sunday afternoon, standing inside the Estadio Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica Kevin Robertson got his moment. 

Competing at the North American, Central American and Caribbean Under-23 Championships, Robertson took home top spot in the men’s 3000 metre steeplechase. The Syracuse University student won in a time of 9 minutes and 4.77 seconds – a comfortable six seconds ahead of his nearest competitor. 

True to form for championship running, Sunday’s pace was far behind Robertson’s Club U23 record of 8:37.26. However, as the bell rang to signal the final lap of the competition Robertson took off, unleashing a powerful kick that produced a closing lap of less than 60 seconds that cemented his victory. 

Also seeing action in the steeplechase was Derek Strachan, who was competing in the U18 NACAC Championship being held alongside the U23 event. Unfortunately for the 17-year-old, he was just one of two entrants in the men’s 2000 metre steeplechase – rendering the event an exhibition. The Glebe Collegiate student finished the event in a time of 6 minutes and 26.97 seconds – three seconds behind Jean Carlos Soza of Nicaragua.

On Saturday, David Adeleye lined up in the finals of the U23 men’s 110 metre hurdles event. The University of Toronto student would finish fifth in a time of 14.13 seconds – about two-tenths off his Club U23 record.

Both Adeleye and Robertson are scheduled to return to action this weekend at the Bell Canadian Track and Field Championships in Langley, BC. You’ll be able to follow all the action at home on athleticscanada.tv or via live results on live.athletics.ca.

World Para Athletics Championships, Paris 2023. July 9 2023. Bianca BORGELLA (CAN), 100m T13 heats

Borgella wins bronze at World Para Athletics Championship

by Internationallinkinbio

On July 7, 2021 we got a sneak peak of what the future had in store. That Wednesday evening in Ottawa at a Twilight Meet, Bianca Borgella broke the Canadian T13 record in the women’s 100 metres. It was her first time racing the distance in a Lions uniform and was the first in a string of Canadian records for the University of Ottawa student.

Today, Borgella added another title to her growing track resume – World Championship medalist. The 20-year-old sprinter placed third in the T13 100 metres with a time of 12.16 seconds at the World Para Athletics Championship taking place in Paris, France this week. 

“I’m really happy with the result,” said Borgella of today’s run. “Not the time that I was expecting, but as it being my first world, I’m just happy that I’m able to experience it and take home a bronze in the end.”

Bianca had entered the Championship as a medal favourite with her Canadian record time of 12.12 seconds from earlier this season topping the world rankings prior to the Championship. 

She would be knocked out of that spot in the rankings in Sunday’s semi-final when Azerbaijan’s Lamiya Valiyeva took top spot in 11.89 seconds with Borgella close behind in a new Canadian record of 12.03 seconds. 

For Borgella, today’s result appears to be just another stepping stone on her journey in athletics. 

“All I can do is my best for that day and hopefully the next day just be stronger and keep training and work harder. And one day bring back a gold in the 100.”

Borgella will return to action at the Championships early on Tuesday as she is scheduled to compete in the T13 200 metre semi-finals at 4:14am Eastern time.

For results, visit the International Paralympic Committee page.

The championships can be live streamed on the IPC YouTube page.

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Four Lions named to Team Canada

by Internationallinkinbio

Summer plans for Derek Strachan, David Adeleye, Kevin Robertson, and John McGowan all now include a trip down south. The four gentlemen were included among the 57 athletes named by Athletics Canada’s to represent the red and white at the NACAC U18 and U23 Championships in Costa Rica as well as the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago. 

Strachan will be Canada’s lone steeplechaser at the NACAC U18 Championships. The Glebe student qualified by way of his personal best effort this past weekend at the OFSAA Track and Field Championships. A grade 11 student, Strachan placed fifth in the 2000 metre steeplechase event on Friday in a time of 6 minutes and 11.57 seconds. Strachan becomes the Club’s first steeplechaser to be named to a national Under-18 team.

Joining Strachan in Costa Rica will be Adeleye and Robertson. For both athletes, this will not be the first time either has donned the red and white in international competition, although it will be a first for each on the track. 

Adeleye, who will race the 110 metre hurdles in Costa Rica, is no stranger to international competition having represented Canada in 2019 as a member of the national Under-18 rugby squad. The University of Toronto student is coming off a strong indoor season that saw him set a new Club U23 record in the 60 metre hurdles. More recently, Adeleye dropped a personal best run of 13.92 seconds late last month at the Bob Vigars Classic.

The last time Kevin Robertson put on a Team Canada singlet he was battling difficult terrain at the Pan Am Cross Country Championships. This time, he’ll only have to contend with some barriers and a water pit as he lines up in the 3000 metre steeplechase. Robertson, a junior at Syracuse, is coming off an outstanding collegiate season where he earned All-American status following his 12th place finish at the NCAA Championships. In addition, Robertson set a new Club U23 record earlier this spring with an impressive 8:37.26 clocking.

Rounding out the list of national team members is John McGowan, who is headed to the island of Trinidad and Tobago to run the 100 metres at the Commonwealth Youth Games. A grade 11 student at St. Michael’s in Kemptville, McGowan qualified for the team by virtue of his winning 10.75 clocking at the East Regional High School Championship. McGowan, who had a best of 11.55 seconds entering the 2023 season, recently finished fifth at the OFSAA Track and Field Championships.

The NACAC U18/U23 Championships are scheduled for July 21-23 in San Jose while the Commonwealth Youth Games will run from August 4 to 11 in Port of Spain.

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Borgella starts season on top of the world

by Internationallinkinbio

Best in the world. That’s how Bianca Borgella kicked off her season yesterday. The University of Ottawa student blasted out of the blocks Saturday at the LSU Alumni Gold meet in Baton Rouge to record a pair of new personal bests in both the 100 and 200 metres within the span of a couple of hours. 

In Louisiana as part of an Athletics Canada training camp, Borgella recorded times of 12.31 and 25.31 seconds respectively over the 100 and 200 metre events. While placing in the bottom half of the hotly contested Southeastern Conference fields, the 20-year-old’s performances now rank her among the best on the planet in the World Para Athletics T13 category.

Borgella has Leber congenital amuarosis, a term covering a group of inherited diseases that affect the retina during early childhood, causing severe vision loss or blindness. 

Since receiving her T13 classification in early 2021, Borgella has emerged as a dominant force in Canadian Para running, having re-written the national record book multiple times in every event from 100 through 400 metres. Saturday’s performances were both national record times, and also have Bianca ranked second globally in the T13 100 metres and in top spot on the planet in the T13 200 metres. 

While she leads the world at 200 metres, don’t expect to see her next summer at the Paralympic Games running the half lap event. The women’s T13 200 metres did not make the cut for next year’s Games, but don’t fret as we expect Bianca to be donning the red and white in both the 100 and 400 metre events. 

Before next year’s adventure, she’ll get a trial run at this summer’s World Para Athletics Championship – also to be held in Paris. 

OTTAWA - August 19, 2020: Liz Maguire at the fifth Ottawa Summer Twilight Series meet of 2020, held under COVID-19 protocols at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

Lions enjoy weekend of road racing success

by InternationallinkinbioMastersNational

Monday was Patriot’s Day in the United States – a holiday celebrated on the third Monday of April commemorating some of the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. For running fans, it’s more commonly known as the day of the Boston Marathon. 

This year’s event in the Massachusetts capital featured a number of current and former Lions in action. Leading the contingent was Josh Cassidy, a mainstay at the event for more than a decade. The two-time Paralympian was 19th to cross the finish line on Boylston Street, stopping the clock in 1 hour 47 minutes and 2 seconds. 

While Monday’s result was Cassidy’s worst performance at Boston, he still managed to find the silver lining. “Coming down Boylston for the final stretch with the incredible support as always is emotional,” expressed Cassidy on Instagram following the race. “Even after a rough one, thousands of people patting you on the back, to say well done.”

The other two current Lions in Boston runners were a pair of masters runners – Liz Maguire and Rob Muir. Maguire finished Monday’s race in 3:18:16 to finish an impressive 10th among the women’s 55-59 age category. In the same age grouping, Muir finished 109th among the men with a time of 3:10:18.

In other road running action, Nicholas Pedersen and Jay Sneddon ventured their way across the country to take on the Vancouver Sun Run Sunday morning. Pedersen, who was battling a nagging injury heading into the race, posted a time of 33 minutes and 59.0 seconds to place 67th in the race of more than 25,000 runners. Nico was 9th in the men’s 19-24 category.

For Sneddon, the Sun Run is always a bit of a homecoming for the man who originally hails from nearby Tsawwassen. The 30-year-old cracked the top-100 as he crossed the line in a time of 34 minutes and 34.0 seconds to placed 84th overall. 

Closer to home masters runners Fritzlor Auguste and Gilles Frenette were in action at the Course Saint Laurent 5k in the Montreal suburb. Auguste, a silver medalist at last year’s Canadian Cross Country Championships, placed 45th overall with a time of 18 minutes and 36.0 seconds. Teammate Gilles Frenette was 58th across the line, stopping the clock at 19:12.0.

For updated Club Rankings, please visit https://milesrowat.shinyapps.io/ottl_rankings/

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Lions have roaring success on track

by InternationallinkinbioUniversity

While the outdoor season may be nearly a month old, it wasn’t too late for a few firsts for Lions athletes. For veteran 800 metre runner Stephen Evans, this weekend marked the first time he tried his hand at the 1500 metres. 

Since his debut with the Lions more than 12 years ago, Evans has run every distance between 60 and 1000 metres;  however, Friday marked the debut in the metric mile for the 26-year-old. Toeing the line at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational at the University of Florida, Evans completed three and three quarter laps in an impressive 3 minutes and 45.04 seconds. The time was good enough for eighth in the race and moved Evans to 16th on the Club’s all-time list. 

In a rare outdoor mile opportunity, Kevin Robertson made the most of it at the Friar Invitational in Rhode Island. The Syracuse junior placed fourth in a personal best time of 4 minutes and 2.08 seconds. Robertson had set his previous best of 4:06.28 in February. 

On the west coast, Keira Christie-Galloway continued her strong season at the Mt Sac Relays. The Grand Canyon University grad student placed fourth in the 100 metre hurdles with a time of 13.36 seconds on Friday. Keira currently ranks 26th on the NCAA Division I Outdoor performance list.

Joining Christie-Galloway at Mt Sac was fellow sprint hurdler David Adeleye who made his outdoor debut with a 14.30 second effort to finish 11th. Adeleye followed up on Friday’s effort with a 14.47 clocking the following day at the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific University where he placed seventh.

At his final home meet, Southeastern Louisiana graduate student Tommy Nedow took home top honours in the discus at the Strawberry Relays. Nedow’s top throw of 51.81 metres bested the rest of the field by more than six metres. 

Rounding out the Lions in action on the track were Joe Fast and Emily Brennan. Fast made his outdoor debut after pulling out of the 1000 metre final at the Ivy League indoor championship. The Princeton junior placed 28th in the 1500 metres at the Larry Ellis Invitational in 4:03.27. 

Brennan, who missed most of the indoor season due to injury, helped her Denison University teammates to a gold medal in the 4×400 metres at the Division III All-Ohio Championship.

Updated Club rankings can be found at https://milesrowat.shinyapps.io/ottl_rankings/