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Ottawa to host 2025 and 2026 Canadian Track and Field Championships

by linkinbioLocalNational

The Canadian Track and Field Championships are coming back to the nation’s capital. Athletics Canada announced today that the 2025 and 2026 editions will be held in Ottawa at Terry Fox Athletic Park, site of the 2017 and 2018 editions.

“We’re pleased to return to Ottawa, the 2017 and 2018 editions of the Canadian Track and Field Championships were some of the best editions ever staged,” said Mathieu Gentès, Chief Executive Officer, Athletics Canada. “Spectator attendance, grassroots integration, and a first-rate sport and entertainment experience were major focus points, the Athletics Canada team looks forward to working with the Ottawa Lions and national and local partners to springboard off those 2017 and 2018 success stories.”

The Canadian Track and Field Championships serve as the national championship for U20, Open and Para Athletics categories. The 2025 edition will serve as World Trials for the 2025 World Athletics Championships to be held in Tokyo, Japan.

“The Ottawa Lions look forward to working with Athletics Canada and the City of Ottawa to bring another exciting set of Championship meets to the nation’s capital in 2025 and 2026,” said Richard Johnston, Executive Director, Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club. “The expansive Ottawa Lions Track and Field programs and partners in the community, will be vital to the volunteer base and operations, while serving as a great platform to incorporate grassroots programming into the event, attract a new fan base and create a memorable experience for those competing and those attending.”

Earlier this summer, Athletics Canada announced that the 2024 Bell Olympic and Paralympic Track and Field Trials will take place in Montreal. The 2023 edition of the event is set for Langley, British-Columbia, July 27 – 30.

OTTAWA - July 14, 2021: Kimberley Howitt competing at Ottawa Summer Twilight #11 at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

Lions win 13 medals at Ontario Masters Championship

by linkinbioProvincial

The height of the season for many of our masters athletes took place this past weekend at the Ontario Masters Championships. Competing against the province’s best, Lions athletes managed to bring home an impressive 13 medals including a staggering 10 golds. 

A quartet of athletes managed to win a pair of gold medals on the weekend. 

Completing one of the more rare track doubles, Kimberley Howitt took top spot in both the 200 and 800 metre events. The 38-year old won the W35 800 in a time of 2:27.23 on Sunday before coming back later in the day to win the 200 in 29.96 seconds.

Joining Howitt as a double gold medalist on the track was Jodi Molstad. The 48-year-old Molstad found herself atop the podium in both the 200 and 400 metres events, winning in times of 31.31 and 1:14.12 respectively. Molstad fell just short of the sprinting trifecta as she took the silver over 100 metres in 14.62 seconds – just over a tenth of second back from the winner Mavis Ayippey of Jamcan International. 

In the field, Club founder Bob Stavely returned to his winning ways in both the shot put and javelin. Stavely, who was a pole vaulter in his younger years, has been a strong force in masters throwing over the past 20 plus years – particularly in the javelin, where he won the M85 competition Sunday with a throw of 15.85 metres. 

As a show of strength, the 88-year-old’s mark would have also been good enough to win the M80 category. 

Also picking up the throws double was Sam Walls, who completed the much more conventional shot put/discus double. The 48-year-old Walls heaved the 16 pound shot put out to 11.60 metres, besting the field by four and a half metres. In the discus, Walls nearly doubled the second place finisher with his 37.75 metre throw. 

The other two golds came over 800 metres where Michael Conway and Gilles Frenette took top spot in the M35 and M45 categories respectively. Conway’s time of 2:06.97 was nearly 22 seconds faster than second place, while Frenette’s 2:18.80 was good for a more than four second margin of victory. 

Danette Nearing-Guibord garnered silver medals in both the W60 100 and 200 metre events.

OTTAWA - August 4, 2021: Louise Stonham competing in the 2000m steeplechase at Ottawa Summer Twilight #14 at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Photograph Copyright 2001 Miles Rowat / Mundo Sport Images

Lions wrap up Legion Nationals with four medals on final day

by linkinbioNational

Closing out a successful Royal Canadian Legion Championship on Sunday, the Ottawa Lions added four more medals to their tally – bringing the total to nine over the three day Canadian Championship. 

For the third straight day, Will Batley found his way to the podium as he picked up a silver in the U16 boys 200 metres following gold in both the 100 metres and 4×100 metre relays. The soon to be grade 10 student at West Carleton Secondary School battled a 2.7 metres per second head wind as he crossed the line in 23.60 seconds – 0.44 seconds behind winner Dominik Bahadur of Laurel Creek. 

Mason Brennan, a member of the gold medal winning U16 boys 4×100 metre relay, won his first individual medal of the championship – a silver in the 200 metre hurdles. The Colonel By student finished in 27.45 seconds, well off his best as the competitors also battled headwinds of 3.0 metres per second. Teammate Zach Jeggo placed 6th in a time of 29.11 seconds. 

Steeplechaser Louise Stonham was the third athlete across the line in the U18 girls 2000 metre steeplechase, but for a while it was not clear she would be the one standing on the podium. The Arnprior District High School student finished in 7:04.19, but was initially disqualified for a suspected lane violation that was overturned on appeal. Stonham’s bronze medal caps quite a year for the soon to be grade 12 student as she now holds a full set of medals from season after a team gold in cross country and silver at the U20 Championships in the 3000 metre steeplechase. 

The final medal of the weekend came from the final event – the U18 boys 4×400 metre relay. With U16 athlete Timeo Afonto being recruited to run lead off, the team of Atonfo, Eric Zielonka, William Sanders, and Nolan Legare ran an impressive 3:26.35 to take the bronze behind British Columbia and Alberta. The quartet’s time is the third fastest U18 time in Club history. 

Just missing out on the podium in the U16 girls 800 metres was Quinn Coughlin. The Opeongo student ran a personal best time of 2:17.54 to finish fourth. Lauren Alexander posted a 2:17.44 to place seventh in the U18 girls 800, while Matteo Padoin-Castillo was eighth in the U16 boys 1500 metre steeplechase with his 4:59.67 clocking. 

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Lions relay wins Canadian Championship in record time

by linkinbioNational

The second day of competition at the 2022 Royal Canadian Legion Championships saw the Lions add another two medals to the haul, bringing the total to five, including a national championship for the U16 boys 4×100 metre relay team. 

For the second day in a row Will Batley was crowned national champion as the Canadian 100 metre champion anchored the quartet of Timeo Afonto, Mason Brennan, and Zach Jeggo to victory in the U16 4×100 metre relay. The Lions narrowly edged out Team Quebec for top spot, crossing the line in 45.26 seconds, just four hundredths ahead of their provincial opponents. The winning time also bests the previous Club age class record of 45.54 set back in 2008 by Cameron Smithers, Eric Leclerc, Devin Biocchi, and Brian Okeny. 

Afonto, Jeggo, and Batley nearly made the podium again a few races later in the sprint medley. Teamed with Saul Taler, the quartet placed fourth in a time of 3:49.23. They were the top placing club in the event, beaten only by provincial team entries from British Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec. 

Also picking up a second medal on day two was Kai Gibson as the Longfields Davidson student took the silver in the U16 boys high jump. Gibson cleared 1.79 metres, just a centimetre below his OFSAA winning best of 1.80 metres. Teammate Mason Brennan finished eighth with a clearance of 1.65 metres.

Registering top eight individual finishes on day two of competition included Zach Jeggo (5th U16 boys 300m), Nolan Legare (6th U18 boys 400m), Amelia Van Brabant (5th U18 girls 3000m), and Quinn Coughlin (7th U16 girls 300m). 

(Ottawa, Canada --- 08 June 2022) Will Batley competing at Ottawa Summer Twilight Meet #3 Photograph Copyright 2022 Miles Rowat / Mundo Sport Images Please tag @mundosportimages if posting on social media

Lions kick off Legion Nationals with full set of medals

by linkinbioNational

After a two year absence, the Royal Canadian Legion Championships kicked off Friday morning in Sherbrooke with 25 Lions athletes set to compete over the three day competition. The pride came in with gusto, picking up a full set of medals and six top 10 performances.

Will Batley was crowned Canada’s fastest 15 year old Friday as he captured gold in the U16 boys 100 metre race in a time of 11.39 seconds. Battling a head wind of 1.7 metres per second, the West Carleton Secondary School student’s time was just one one hundredth of a second off his personal best set at the OFSAA Championships back in June. 

With his victory, Batley becomes the first Lion to win the U16 100 metre gold in 20 years, and just the third all time – joining Olympian Oluseyi Smith (2002) and Matthew Stenson (1994).

Next on the podium was Kai Gibson, as he hoped, skipped, and jumped his way to a silver medal in the U16 boys triple jump. The reigning OFSAA high jump champion used his bouncy feet to bound his way out to a personal best distance of 12.60 metres on his first jump. Proving it was no fluke, he followed it up with a jump of 12.59 metres on his final attempt. 

Similarly to Batley, Gibson’s medal was the first for a Lion in the event since 1979 when future Olympian and Lions Hall of Fame member Brian Marshall also took home the silver medal. 

Rounding out the podium performances was Timeo Atonfo who nabbed himself a bronze in the U16 boys 100 metre hurdles. Atonfo, a silver medalist last weekend over the 200 metre hurdles at the Ontario Championships, finished in a personal best time of 14.26 seconds, just three one hundredths behind second. Atonfo’s teammates Mason Brennan and Zach Jeggo finished fifth and sixth respectively. 

Rounding out the top-10 finishes was Adelle MacLeod, who placed ninth in the U18 girls long jump with a distance of 4.88 metres. 

For live results, visit: https://chrono-v.ca/220805

Live streaming: athleticscanada.tv

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Shapiro and Manuel run for Canada at Maccabiah Games

by Internationallinkinbio

Representing Canada on the international stage is what many athletes dream of. For two Lions, Ben Shapiro and Alex Manuel, they had that opportunity late last month as they donned the red and white and competed in the 21st Maccabiah Games – a multisport games for athletes of the Jewish faith that takes place in the year following the Olympic Games in Israel. 

Shapiro was the busier of the two men taking to the line in all three sprints plus the relay events. The meet got off to a great start as Shapiro ran his way to a personal best time of 11.47 seconds to place sixth in the junior men’s 100 metres. He would follow that up with an all-conditions best in the 200 metres as he clocked a windy 23.84 seconds to place ninth overall.  

The future Western University student also helped Canada to fourth and fifth place finishes in the 4×100 and 4×400 metre relays respectively. 

For Manuel, the 100 metres also brought out the best in him as he finished fifth overall in the open men’s race with a new personal best time of 10.95 seconds. Alex added a second fifth place finish in the 200 metres, crossing the line in a season’s best of 22.73.

(Ottawa, Canada---22 June 2022) Zach Jeggo competing in Ottawa Summer Twilight Meet 5 or the 2022 track and field season. Copyright 2022 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images

Jeggo and Coughlin bring home hardware from Ontario Summer Games

by linkinbioProvincial

The Ontario Summer Games, an annual multi-sport event for athletes between the ages of 12 and 18, kicked off last Thursday in Mississauga. The Lions were represented in the athletics competition by three athletes – Quinn Coughlin, Zachary Jeggo, and Matteo Padoin-Castillo. Combined the three athletes captured four individual medals including one gold. 

Jeggo had a near perfect meet as he set new lifetime bests in all three of the events he competed in. This included a gold medal performance in the 200 metre hurdles where Jegoo broke Luca Nicolletti’s U16 Club record with his time of 26.34 seconds. The Louis-Riel student picked up a second medal, a bronze, in the U16 300 metres with his time of 37.57 seconds. 

Jeggo’s final best came in the 200 metre heats where he posted a time of 23.74 seconds. He would finish seventh in the final in 23.91.

The other two medals came from Quinn Coughlin who took home a pair of bronze medals. The first came in the 300 metre event for Coughlin where she trimmed nearly half a second off her previous best with a 41.98 second clocking. Another personal best brought home the second medal as the Opeongo High School student dipped under 2:18 for the first time at 800 metres, to finish in two minutes and 17.92 seconds. 

For Matteo, his results found him just off the podium as he took fourth in the U16 1500 metre steeplechase. His time of 4:58.08 was about a second and a half back of bronze. Padoin-Castillo also part in his first racewalk, finishing ninth in the 1500 metre event. 

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Cassidy to carry flag at Commonwealth opening cermonies

by Internationallinkinbio

Commonwealth Sport Canada proudly announced Lions wheelchair racer Joshua Cassidy will be one of two athletes that will help usher the Canadian flag into Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on July 27 during the opening ceremonies of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Cassidy, a bronze medalist at the 2010 Games, will be joined in the honour by Olympic and Commonwealth weightlifting champion Maude Charron. 

“This is going take some time to sink in, but this opportunity is something that when you’re starting out as an athlete, to be a flag bearer for a games is always recognized as such a prestigious thing,” said Cassidy upon learning that he had been chosen. “What an honour and what a huge surprise. Thank you so much.”

Cassidy becomes just the second Lion to have the honour of being flag bearer for Canada at the Commonwealth Games. Hammer thrower Sultana Frizell carried the Canadian flag in the closing ceremonies of the 2014 Games in Glasgow.

(Langley, British Columbia ---25 June 2022) Lauren Gale competing on day four of the Canadian Track and Field Championships at McLeod Athletic Park. Photograph 2022 Copyright Miles Ryan Rowat / Mundo Sport Images

Gale finishes 26th in 200m; turns eye to 4×4 at World Championships

by Internationallinkinbio

It’s been a busy year for Lauren Gale. Since opening her season on the 15th of January, the 22-year-old had raced no less than 33 times before arriving here in Eugene for the World Championships. Two races in and she remains hungry for the next one. 

Gale was in tough Monday night in her heat of the 200 metres. Lined up to the outside of defending bronze medalist Mujinga Kambundji and world number two Abby Steiner, the Club record holder was fourth across the line in 23.08 seconds. Gale’s performance fell just short of qualifying on time as she finished 26th overall in the field of 44. 

“I’m very happy with my time considering I’ve been running for a while,” explained Gale following her race. “I’m happy to come fourth in my race behind such great competitors.”

Now the focus for Gale shifts to Canada’s 4×400 metre relay team, which begins their quest for a spot on the podium Saturday night. 

The Canadian women, including Gale as an alternate, finished an agonizing fourth last year in Tokyo – the second Olympics in a row. Heading into the weekend, the goal is simple, “I’m hoping Canada medals,” said Gale. 

“I think we’re got the talent to do so. I think all three other girls are very competitive and I think they are ready. 

The 4×400 metre heats go Saturday night at 8:10pm eastern and can be streamed live on CBC.ca

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Gale places 29th in World Championship 400m

by Internationallinkinbio

“It feels awesome.” That’s how sprinter Lauren Gale described the experience of running in her first World Athletics Championship. The 22-year-old sprinter placed fifth in her heat of the 400 metres in a time of 52.46 second, missing out on one of the three automatic qualifying spots. 

“I haven’t run at Oregon on this track yet, so to break it in at a World Championship is just an amazing feeling,” explained Gale following her heat.  The recent Colorado State University graduate had expected to get her first taste of the Hayward magic last month at the NCAA Championships, but her collegiate season was cut short by a case of COVID which forced her to withdraw from the West Regional Preliminaries. 

Gale pushed the pace for the first 200, splitting 24.5 at the halfway mark and finding herself in a tight battle for second place. However, as the field entered the home stretch, the field had caught up and eventually passed her as she shifted back to fifth.

There is still more to come from Gale this championship as she lines in heat five of the 200 metre preliminaries tonight at 9:28pm eastern. You can catch all the action live on CBC.