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With the largest number of competitors so far in 2022, the Lions closed out January with a bang. By the time the weekend had closed, a new Club record and University of Ottawa record were in the books as well as a number two all-time effort.

Sydney Smith set the tone for the weekend when she posted a speedy 1:13.36 clocking for 500 metres in her first race in nearly two years. The University of Ottawa graduate student was more excited than surprised at the new school record flashing on the scoreboard, besting the previous mark of 1:13.91 set by Charlotte Gardner in 2014.

“Although it’s been so long since I last competed, the last couple of years have been full of hard work, training, and just all around continued focus,” said Smith of her race. “I’m super excited about the record – it feels motivating especially because this was our season opener, so I’m really looking forward to see what else we can work towards!”

A day later, another woman would re-write the record book, with Olympian Lauren Gale taking top spot at the Colorado Invitational 400 metres in a new Club record 51.53 seconds. Gale’s time bested the previous standard of 51.70 set by Esther Akinsulie in 2009 and now gives her every 400 metre record in the Club from U16 on up.

“It feels SO AWESOME,” wrote Gale in a message about setting the new record. “The Lions have been one of my biggest supporters throughout literally my entire track career and being able to have my name attached to the Club in this way is awesome.”

Gale, who was a member of Canada’s 4×400 metre relay team in Tokyo last summer admits the title of Olympian has added a little pressure this season, with meet announcers regularly including the title in their introductions. However, the title also leaves her wanting to prove something. “It’s made me want to run faster!”

Faster she has gone, as the Colorado State University senior has been off to a speedy start to this indoor season, which includes a 23.52 clocking at 200 metres. However, she insists her and coach J.J. Riese haven’t made too many adjustments to her training this season. “I think just improving on what we’ve been doing, so like we’ve been working on starts and adjusting more each time or working on lactic and going faster paced each time or lifting the same type of lifts but heavier, it’s been the same style just working harder,” is how Gale described this year’s training.

She will continue to stay the course as she prepares for the Mountain West Conference Championships at the month where she will be looking for her third straight indoor 400 title and qualify for her first NCAA Indoor Championships. She is currently ranked first in the event across the NCAA.

Back in the eastern time zone, Tommy Nedow continued his undefeated season – sweeping both the shot put and weight throw at McNeese State in Louisiana. The Southeastern Louisiana student whirled the 35 pound weight out to 17.90 metres on his second effort of the competition to secure victory. The performance added nearly a metre and a half to his previous best set two weeks earlier and moves Nedow to number two in Club history behind former Canadian hammer throw champion James Fahie. Nedow also comfortably took top spot in the shot put with his throw of 16.66 metres – more than two metres further than second place.

Syracuse junior Kevin Robertson also found a spot on the “PB train” this weekend with his 4:10.15 effort to win the mile at the Kane Invitational hosted by Cornell University. Robertson led from the gun, constantly pushing the pace against what he deemed a weaker field and slower, flat track at Barton Hall. As the laps accumulated, so did the distance between him and the rest of the field – two seconds, four seconds, four seconds, eight seconds, eight seconds, ten seconds, and then finally twelve seconds for each of the final two laps.

Robertson will be back in the mile this coming weekend at The Armory in New York where he’s looking to ride the train again. “With more competition and a faster track, I think I’ll be able to run a lot faster,” he said. “Maybe under 4:05.”

The weekend culminated back where it started, in Boston. The Nor-Easter which blew through town and dropped more than two feet of snow in the Boston region pushed the second day of the competition to Sunday. However, the delay in running didn’t seem to affect Stephen Evans too much. Competiting in his speciality, the 800 metres, set a new indoor best of 1:49.09 to place third overall.