linkinbio - Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club

President’s Corner for September 2021

October 5, 2021

by miles.rowat admin linkinbio

Hi everyone – and Happy (very early!) October! Welcome to our September President’s Corner!

The monthly President’s Corner is an opportunity to see what’s happening within the Club, to hear about what our Board of Directors is working on, and to learn about what we discuss at our monthly meetings.

Ottawa Lions Board of Directors’ September 2021 Meeting

During the September 13th Board of Directors’ meeting, our Executive Director, Richard Johnston, spoke to the exceptional performances of our athletes in the Ontario U20, U18 and Open Championships. Our Twilight Meets, which wrapped up in August, were also a huge success! The Board of Directors would like to thank and recognize Richard, Jess, Zach, and Connor, as well as all of our volunteers, coaches, officials, and athletes, for putting the effort in to ensure safe and successful meets throughout the summer.

Heading into the fall season, Richard announced that our youth and competitive programs have great numbers, including a strong contingent of varsity athletes from both the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. There are also several events to look forward to in the coming months! On October 1st and 2nd, many of our athletes competed at the Capital XC Challenge at Mooney’s Bay Park. If you weren’t competing, we hope that you were able to come by and show your support!

This year will also mark the first time in history that the Canadian Cross-Country Championships will be held in Ottawa. Mark your calendars – the event will take place at Wesley Clover Parks on November 27, 2021. We will continue to share more information about this event as it becomes available.

The Board of Directors also has some exciting projects on the go!

Our President, Jenn D., has been working to create a partnership with the Algonquin College Sports Business Management program to provide student interns with on-the-ground experience working with local sport organizations.
Jenn D. has also volunteered as the Safe Sport Champion for the Ottawa Sport Council’s Slack Workspace. Participating in the OSC Slack Workspace will strengthen our Club’s relationship with other local sports organizations and will help grow safe sport initiatives in the City of Ottawa.
James and Jen P. made recommendations to streamline our Club’s donation process.

Athlete and Coach Recognition

As a Club, we have much to celebrate since the last President’s Corner update. In late July and early August, several Ottawa Lions represented Canada at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Congratulations to Melissa Bishop-Nriagu, Lauren Gale, Tim Nedow and Glenroy Gilbert, who made us proud as they competed on the world stage!

We would like to offer our best wishes to Hugh Conlin who has announced his retirement from coaching. Hugh has been with the club since 1976 as a sprints and hurdles coach.

The Board of Directors would also like to recognize the loss of former athlete Steve Nkusi and would like to extend its deepest sympathies and condolences to Steve’s family and friends.

Staffing Changes

In September, we also said goodbye to Jessica McRae as she moved on from the Ottawa Lions after more than five years as our Office Manager. Her tireless efforts in ensuring the club ran smoothly while always having a smile on her face as she welcomed us to the track will no doubt be missed, and we wish her the very best of luck in her new adventures.

With this in mind, we would like to welcome two new staff members, Yolande Jones-Grande and Tim Nedow! Yolande has joined our team as our Executive Assistant & Registrar and Tim as our Manager of Youth Programs.

Ottawa Lions Banquet

Finally, we are so excited about the Ottawa Lions Banquet, that was held on October 2nd, 2021, at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Starting at 5pm, this outdoor event was a night to honour our members and all their hard work from the past 2 years.

It was great to see so many of you there!

Jennifer Dumoulin

President, Board of Directors
Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club
president@ottawalions.com

(prepared jointly with Zeena Rashid, Secretary, Ottawa Lions Board of Directors)

Season starts off with a bang at Capital Cross Country Challenge

October 4, 2021

by miles.rowat linkinbio Local

Not too often you get to wrap a Dicken’s quote into a write up about a cross country race, but the conditions at this past weekend’s Capital Cross Country Challenge was straight out of the opening lines of A Tale of Two Cities. Friday afternoon’s high school section was most certainly the best of weather, while Saturday seemed to bring the worst of weather, but none of that seemed to deter any of the more than 520 runners competing.

Running under near ideal conditions, Amelia Van Brabant dominated the varsity girls field as she finished the grueling five kilometre course in a time of 17 minutes and 54.55 seconds. The grade 11 student at Earl of March High School in Kanata crossed the line more than a full minute ahead of runner-up Clara Hegan. The girls junior varsity crown was taken by Isabella Chiumera of St. Pius X, while Lauren Alexander of the Lions was third.

Frontenac Secondary School’s Angus Skinner claimed the win in the varsity boys five kilometre race in 16 minutes and 2.07 seconds, 21 seconds ahead of St. Paul’s Zackary Sikka. Caden Turcotte, of Kingston’s Physi-Kult Running Club, rounded out the medalists in 16:44.55.

Producing the tightest finish on Friday was the boys junior varsity four kilometre contest, where Simon Rosenthal of Montreal’s Villa Maria High School crossed the line 14 minutes and 13.61 seconds, just two seconds ahead of Mother Teresa’s Will Sanders.

The clear sunny skies of Friday quickly turned into dark grey rain clouds over night, but as bleak as the skies may have appeared, it failed to dampen the excitement for both the elementary school children and post secondary runners.

The open women’s six kilometre contest was won by Charlotte Langley of Queen’s University in 23 minutes and 6.04 seconds, but it was McGill who would claim the team title with an impressive 28 points as they managed to place all five of their scorers in the top-10. Sophy Wood was the top scorer for the Carleton Ravens, placing 30th overall in 25:23.69, while Kylee Fowler was the top runner for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees.

The open men’s race was dominated by Queen’s as Kirby Mitchell led the Gaels to a sweep of the top four positions, winning in 19 minutes and 7.94 seconds. The Gaels totaled 19 points, 32 ahead of second place McGill to take the team title. The Gee-Gees placed third with 111 points led by veterans Andre Alie-Lamarche and Adrian Fournier who place 7th and 11th overall respectively. The top Lion was Nicholas Pedersen, who finished a spot behind Alie-Lamarche in eighth. Darion Dillabaugh of Carleton was the top Raven, placing 27th overall.

The cross country season continues this coming weekend, October 10th, with the both the Gee-Gees and Ravens travelling to Quebec to compete in the Sherbrooke Invitational.

For complete results and photos from the Capital Cross Country Challenge, visit our results page.

OTTAWA - October 2, 2021: Zach Quevillon and the Aspire group at the 2021 Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club Annual Awards Banquet held at the Terry Fox Athletics Facility.

Photograph Copyright 2001 Miles Rowat

Lions celebrate the best of past two year at awards banquet

October 3, 2021

by miles.rowat linkinbio Local Statistics

For the first time in Club history, the Ottawa Lions gathered on the Mondo surface at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility to celebrate their annual awards banquet. Last night’s ceremony was a unique event as it also served to recognize the stand out efforts from the COVID shortened 2019-20 season. In total, 22 athletes were recognized for their outstanding achievements on the track and in the field, while the Sean Cole Memorial award for dedication to Club service was presented to long time official Rick Watkins for the leadership he has shown in building a strong team of officials in the Ottawa area in recent years.

The Gilbert Awards, named in honour of Olympic champion Glenroy Gilbert, are handed out annually to the most outstanding male and female athletes in the Club for both track and field events. Olympians Tim Nedow and Melissa Bishop-Nriagu captured their sixth and seventh Gilbert awards respectively, while 800 metre runner Stephen Evans and javelin thrower Olivia Merritt were both first time Gilbert winners Saturday night.

Saturday night’s victory was the sixth straight of Nedow in the men’s field event category, equaling the Club best of former decathlete Patrick Arbour. The Brockville native surpassed the Olympic shot put standard with a heave of 21.11 metres in his opening meet of the season back in April to qualify for his second Games. Hampered by an injury in Tokyo, Nedow placed 31st.

Melissa Bishop-Nriagu took home top honours among female track athletes for the seventh time and the first since the birth of her daughter Corinne in 2018. The 31 year old qualified for her third Olympic Games on the strength of a seasonal best effort of one minute and 58.36 for 800 metres. Bishop-Nriagu also experimented with the 1500 metres more in 2021, shattering her previous Club record by nearly five seconds and just missing out on the Olympic standard in a second event.

Fellow 800 metre runner Stephen Evans took home his first Gilbert Award for men’s track on the strength of a new personal best effort that moved him to second on the Club’s all-time list. The former USports champion consistently ranked among the top 800 metre runners in Canada throughout he season and culminated his season with a personal best performance of 1:48.28 to place second at in an American Track League.

Olivia Merritt finished the 2021 season ranked among the top javelin throwers in Ontario on the strength of a new personal best effort of 45.08 metres at one of our summer Twilight Meets. Merritt’s throw also moved her to tenth on the Club’s all-time rankings in the event.

The most outstanding athletes in the under-20 category went to a pair of athletes who each produced international level performances in 2021. Sprint hurdler David Adeleye, who took home the honour for top male, just dipped under the global standard for this year’s World U20 Championships with his 14.14 second clocking en route to a third place finish at the Ontario championships.

Bianca Borgella set multiple Canadian records in all three of the sprint events in the T13 category in 2021 including besting the 100 metre standard for the Tokyo Paralympic Games. The University of Ottawa student was a finalist over 200 metres at the provincial championships and helped anchor the Lions to a second place finish in the 4×100 metre relay.

With the honour last night, Borgella became the second T13 athlete in Club history to be named most outstanding U20 athlete. Three time Paralympic medalist Stuart McGregor received the same honour in 1998. In addition to her U20 award, Bianca also received the Sam Estwick Memorial Award for most outstanding para athlete.

Luca Nicoletti took home the honour of most outstanding male in the under-18 category after capture the under-16 award two years ago. Nicoletti had a splendid season on the track, moving to number five all-time on the U18 200 metre list with a blistering 21.97 second clocking and nabbing one gold and three silvers at the Ontario Championships.

The top under-18 athlete on the women’s side was distance runner Amelia Van Brabant. The grade 11 student had a break out summer on the track that saw her smash personal best across all her events – highlighted by a 9:57.73 clocking to win gold over 3000 metres at the Ontario Under-20 Championships. It was the seventh fastest time among U18 women in Club history.

The honour of most outstanding U16 female was shared between the pair of Koree Yach and Joceyln Giannotti. Yach was a gold medalist as part of the U18 winning 4×800 relay that recorded the fifth fastest time at that age level in Club history and recorded the third fastest 2000 metre steeplechase among U16 athletes in the Club. Giannotti was a bronze medalist at 2000 metres at the Ontario U16 Championships.

Serge Faucher, a double gold medalist over 200 and 400 metres at the Ontario Masters Championship, took home the honour of most outstanding male masters athlete. Similarly, Kimberley Howitt received top billing as female masters athlete for her double gold at 400 and 800 metres at the provincial championships.

The Lions also recognized Olympic team members Melissa Bishop-Nriagu, Lauren Gale, Tim Nedow, and head coach Glenroy Gilbert as recipients of the President’s Award, handed out annually to athletes who represented their country on a national team in international competition.

Below is a complete list of those recognized last night.

Gilbert Awards (Senior)

Female
Track: Melissa Bishop-Nriagu
Field: Olivia Merritt

Male
Track: Stephen Evans
Field: Tim Nedow

Most Outstanding U20

Female: Bianca Borgella
Male: David Adeleye

Most Outstanding U18

Female: Amelia Van Brabant
Male: Luca Nicoletti

Most Outstanding U16

Female: Koree Yach and Jocelyn Giannotti
Male: Not Awarded

Most Outstanding U14

Female: Not awarded
Male: Not awarded

Denis Landry Award (Most Outstanding University of Ottawa)

Female: Madison Clarke (2020) / Maeliss Trapeau (2021)
Male: Kyle Sprague (2020) / Quinn Lyness (2021)

Most Outstanding Carleton University

Female: Pippa Norman (2020)
Male: Michael Pinnock (2020)

Sam Estwick Award (Most Outstanding Para Athlete)

Bianca Borgella

Most Outstanding Cross Country

Female: Ivy Bialowas (2021)
Male: Kevin Robertson (2020) / Sebastian Cino (2021)

Most Outstanding Masters

Female: Wendy Alexis (2020) / Kimberley Howitt (2021)
Male: Serge Faucher (2021)

Most Outstanding Road Racing

Not awarded

Most Outstanding Combined Events

Not awarded

Sean Cole Memorial Award (Dedication to Club Service)

Rick Watkins

President’s Award (National Team Member)

Kevin Robertson (2020 Pan Am Cross Country)
Melissa Bishop-Nriagu (2021 Olympic Team)
Lauren Gale (2021 Olympic Team)
Tim Nedow (2021 Olympic Team)
Glenroy Gilbert (2021 Olympic Team)

2021 Canadian Cross Country Championships Take Over the Capital

September 27, 2021

by miles.rowat linkinbio National

As Ottawa weather turns cold and wet, the country’s best cross country racers will heat up the trails of our Nation’s Capital for the 2021 Canadian Cross Country Championships, to be held November 27.

“Winning a national championship is always a special experience for an athlete. Athletics Canada is proud to provide a safe environment for all the competitor to do what they do best – compete. The same goes for the coaches, officials and race volunteers that make these events happen. With this being the first time the Canadian Cross Country Championships have been held in Ottawa, it is all the more special to put on this first-class event, with our first-class partners, in one of Canada’s greatest cities,” said Athletics Canada CEO David Bedford.

This race for the gold marks Ottawa’s first time hosting the event, a feat the capital will repeat in 2022. Wesley Clover Parks in Nepean will be the site where the first national cross country champions since 2019 will be crowned. The 2020 event was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Run Ottawa has decades of experience showcasing the best road racers Canada has to offer at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend.  Working with Athletics Canada as the Local Organizing Committee for the Canadian Cross Country Championships is an honour and pulls us off the road and into whatever Wesley Clover Parks has to offer in late November!”, said Ian Fraser, Executive Director, Run Ottawa. “Run Ottawa is also privileged to partner with the Ottawa Lions to help us execute a stellar Championship for Canada’s best athletes.”

Wesley Clover Parks is a new setting for Cross Country in Ottawa. While races are annually contested at Mooney’s Bay Park and The Hornet’s Nest, race organizers have created a challenging course that will allow athletes to push the pace on the flats, grind out the competition in the rolling wooded trails and take on the elements mother nature has in store for them in late November. The course has a bit of everything and will also allow spectators to get around to many vantage points and cheer on the athletes.

“As soon as it was shared that Ottawa would be the site of the 2021 and 2022 Athletics Canada Cross Country Championships, we didn’t waste any time. While it was only four years ago Ottawa welcomed the best in Canadian Athletics at the Canadian Track and Field Championships, we are thrilled to welcome Canada’s best harriers to Wesley Clover Parks,” said Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club Director and Head Coach Richard Johnston.

Upwards of 1,000 competitors descend on the host city every year to compete in the Canadian Cross Country Championships in the U18, U20, Open and Masters age categories. Consistent with Athletics

Canada’s mandatory vaccination policy, all athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators will need to provide proof of full vaccination to participate in the 2021 Canadian Cross Country Championships.

The deadline to register for the 2021 Canadian Cross Country Championships is Monday, November 15 at 7 p.m. ET.

Important Links 

2021 Canadian Cross Country Championships information
Registration
HTG Sports hotel preview
HTG Sports hotel booking  
Volunteer information

Looking for athletes to participate in study on Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S)

September 20, 2021

by miles.rowat linkinbio Statistics

Dear Canadian Athletes,

We’re reaching out to see if you would possibly considering being part of an online questionnaire/study (20-30 min), assessing potential signs and symptoms of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) in athletes (female and male, recreational to high performance, able bodied and para-athletes, ages >15 years old)?

This study is a large rolling entry study over the next many months. This international athlete survey part of the study will be open for that time period as well, but we will do a few concerted efforts for people to hopefully participate.

Thank you so much, and appreciate any help/support we can get.

Trent & Ida (on behalf of entire senior research team outlined below, plus many more collaborators in Canada).

Background:

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) – a concept identified and supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) – characterizes a range of negative health (impaired endocrine function, bone health, illness and injury, potentially elevated protein requirements) and performance (endurance and strength) outcomes that result from chronic (>weeks to months) low energy availability (EA). Despite wide recognition of its significance for athlete health and performance, our ability to correctly assess and diagnose RED-S remains poor. Furthermore, awareness of RED-S among elite athletes, coaches and physicians remains poor.

In order to enhance our understanding on various RED-S risk factors and to improve our ability to screen athletes for RED-S, we are distributing a questionnaire (20-30 min) that asks athletes questions around potential RED-S signs and symptoms.

Target:

With the questionnaire we are targeting athletes, female and male, recreational to high performance, able bodied and para-athletes, ages >15 years old.

Survey Link in 4 languages:

English: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/REDS-Global

French: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/REDS-Global?lang=fr

Japanese: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/REDS-Global?lang=ja

Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/REDS-Global?lang=es

What is in it for athletes?

RED-S concerns high performance junior and senior athletes around the world, where effects are seen beyond the degree of success at major championships, including the cost of health care and long-term consequences for athletes diagnosed with RED-S. The results of these studies will: 1) inform us of the best parameters to use in the early diagnosis, and management of RED-S; 2) provide information of the prevalence and severity of the problem across sports, and in females and males, at various athlete levels as well as produce global prevalence data on RED-S; 3) provide further information and education on the risks of long-term RED-S and of the ways in which the athlete can avoid developing RED-S. We hope these outcomes will inform improved RED-S diagnoses and ultimately the health and performance of athletes in the future.

Please let us know if you have extra questions,

The Research Team,

iheikura@csipacific.ca

tstellingwerff@csipacific.ca

Research team:

Principal Investigator:
Trent Stellingwerff, Ph.D., FACSM
Director of Performance Solutions, Innovation & Research
Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (CSI Pacific) / University of Victoria (UVIC) / University of British Columbia

Co-Investigator:
Ida Heikura, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral research fellow
UVIC / CSI Pacific

Collaborators:

Margo Mountjoy, MD PhD, CCFP (sem) FCFP FACSM Dip Sport Med, IOC Medical Commission-Games group, FINA Sports Medicine, McMaster University, Ontario, Canada

Paddy McCluskey, MD, Chief Medical Officer, CSI Pacific, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Kathryn Ackerman, MD, MPH, FACSM, Medical Director, Female Athlete Program, Division of Sports Medicine Boston Children’s Hospital; Associate Director, Sports Endocrine Research Lab, Neuroendocrine Unit Massachusetts General Hospital; Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School; Team Physician, USA Rowing, USA

Louise Burke, OAM PhD APD, Chair of Sports Nutrition, Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Exercise and Nutrition Research Program, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia

To contact us, please email at: redsstudy@csipacific.ca

Lions to host annual banquet October 2nd

September 16, 2021

by miles.rowat admin linkinbio Local

Dear Lions,

You are invited to attend the official return of the Ottawa Lions Banquet on Saturday, October 2nd 2021!

It will be a night under the lights as we celebrate and reflect on the hard work, commitment and effort put forward over the past two years across all platforms of our sport.
Indoor venues pose restrictions that our home venue does not. Hosting the 2020 & 2021 Banquet at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility will allow us to gather in a larger group to reflect on the past two seasons by honouring Ottawa Lion Members, volunteers, coaches and officials on the very surface we train on day in and out!

2020 and 2021 have been far from normal and we want to recognize the team’s accomplishments over the past two years.

Location:
Terry Fox Athletic Facility (High Jump Apron)
2960 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, ON K1V 8N4

Time:
5:00 pm – Cocktails
6:00 pm – Dinner
Awards & Speeches throughout the Dinner
Expected Conclusion – 8:30 pm

Tickets/RSVP:
Can be purchased at Trackie follow the link HERE.
$30.00
Deadline to RSVP will be Monday September 27th at 11:59pm.

You may select your main course while purchasing your ticket. Chicken, Salmon or Stuffed Mushroom with mixed vegetables, rice, potatoes, salad, desert and assorted drinks (non-alcoholic drinks).

Select Beer and Wine will be available for purchase to those of age.

Dinner Maximum Capacity:
150 Guests.
Due to COVID measures this was the best option to welcome as many members and guests. All attendees will be asked to complete a COVID assessment and provide proof of vaccination prior to entry of the facility.

Dress/Attire:
Business / Cocktail (weather appropriate)
This is an outdoor event but the dining area will have canvas tents, walls and a few heaters (Average temperature at this time of the year is usually in the low teens).
Hope to see everyone there!

(Montreal, Canada---27 July 2019) Kevin Robertson running to Gold in the U20 3000m steeplechase at 2019 Canadian Track and Field Championships at the Claude Robillard Sports Centre in Montreal. 2019 Copyright Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images.

Robertson opens XC season with victory

September 6, 2021

by miles.rowat linkinbio University

The crisp air of fall is slowly returning and students are heading back to school, which can only mean the start of a new cross country season is upon us. Kevin Robertson got things off on the right foot Saturday as he took home the men’s title at the Harry Lang Invitational hosted by Colgate University. Racing for the Orange of Syracuse, Robertson completed the 6.4 kilometre course in 19 minutes and 39.5 seconds, five seconds ahead of teammate Ethan Weschler. In fact, Robertson led a complete sweep of the top five positions for the Orange as Syracuse won with a perfect 15 points.

Despite starting his third year of Computer Engineering at Syracuse, this was Robertson’s cross country debut in an Orange singlet. His last cross country event was the 2020 U20 Pan Am XC Cup in Langford, BC where he placed 19th overall.

The next event up on the Orange’s schedule will be Friday’s Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational at Penn State. We will be keeping an eye out for Shona McCulloch on the start line to se if she will be making her debut for Syracuse after transferring as a graduate student from the University of Washington.

Full results from the Harry Lang Invitational are available at Leone Timing.

Lions mourn loss of former athlete Steve Nkusi

August 24, 2021

by miles.rowat linkinbio Local

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of former Lions high jumper Steve Nkusi Saturday evening. While only with the Club for a short four years, the man known for an infectious smile made a significant impact on everyone who had the pleasure to cross paths with him.

The 24-year old had joined the Club after being recruited by then University of Ottawa Gees Gees team manager Noah Houlton. “Steve was single handedly the nicest individual a friend and team manager could expect. His smile and positive attitude was uncanny,” said Houlton fondly. “When I saw him clear 2 metres in high school with no training and in basketball shorts, I knew he was special. An exceptional human being is what he really was.”

While Nkusi excelled in the high jump, reaching a best of 2.10 metres, winning Canadian Under-20 gold, and representing Canada at the Pan American Under-20 Championships, he was successful in many avenues. After just receiving his Bachelor of Commerce degree in finance the University of Ottawa this June, Nkusi was already tackling his newest challenge – modelling, even landing roles in two films.

The Lions would like to extend its deepest sympathies and condolences to Steve’s family and friends. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.

For those interested in supporting Steve’s family, a GoFundMe has been organized.

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 finish second in province for second week in a row

August 12, 2021

by miles.rowat linkinbio Provincial

It was deja vu all over again for Lions coaches this past weekend as they witnessed another provincial title fall just out of their grasp as the Under-18 team placed second at the Ontario Championships despite garnering eight medals – including three gold. Like it did for the senior athletes, the title was decided in the final event, the men’s 4×400 metre relay, with the Lions placing fourth and coming up two points shy of London Western’s winning total of 116 points. In the three provincial championships held so far this summer, the margin of victory has been two points or less.

The women’s 4×800 metre relay winning team of Louise Stoneham, Gillian Porter, Koree Yach, and Amelia Van Brabant combined for a massive 46 of the Lions 114 point total. The quartet finished five seconds clear of second place in a time of nine minutes and 46.21 seconds – good enough for fifth on the Club’s age group rankings. Individually, Stoneham and Porter took the top two spots in the 2000 metre steeplechase, both in personal best efforts, finishing in times of 7:21.78 and 7:29.90 respectively.

Stoneham picked up five more points with her fourth place finish in the 3000 metres as Van Brabant nabbed a silver in the second best performance of her life – 10:05.40. Van Brabant, who has seen significant improvements across all her events this summer also nabbed a new personal best at 1500 metres, 4:39.85, to pick up a fourth place finish at five more team points.

The other gold medal of the weekend came from Adriano Padoin-Castillo as he took top honours in the steeplechase. The Immaculata High School student trimmed more than half a minute off his previous best to cross the line in six minutes and 36.87 seconds – just a fraction of a second ahead of Laurel Creek’s Nathan Paul. Padoin-Castillo also ran the lead leg of the 4×800 metre relay that place fourth.

Other individual medals came from Thomas Kukla-Colby and Audrey Goddard, who each took home bronze. Kukla-Colby set a new best of 56.63 seconds over the 400 metre hurdles for his third place finish, while Goddard cleared 1.45 metres for third in the high jump.

The women’s 4×100 and 4×400 metre relay teams picked up the final two bronze’s of the weekend.

Click here for full results.

Olympic Profile – Lauren Gale

August 4, 2021

by miles.rowat International linkinbio

As we get set to enter Day 7 of competition at the Olympic Stadium we wanted to help introduce you to the third and final Lion competing this year in Tokyo – Lauren Gale.

At 21 years of age, Gale is the youngest member of the Canadian athletics team in Japan and is expected to run as part of Canada’s 4×400 metre relay team in Thursday morning’s heats.

The Colorado State University record holder set a lifetime best of 51.96 seconds over 400 metres at the NCAA West Regional back in May to qualify for Team Canada. The mark is the second fastest in Club history. Gale set the Club record over the 200 metres as well this year with her 23.15 second clocking at the Mountain West Conference Championships.

We had a chance to connect with Olympian Lauren Gale prior to the start of the Games and ask her a few questions to help you get to know her a little better.

Q: How did you get started in track and field?

Gale: I was always super speedy when I was playing soccer. I always got to the ball first. So we tried switching into running and it took off from there! It didn’t really start being competitive until I joined the Lions!

Q: Name your favourite place to compete.

Gale: My favourite place to compete was the Bahamas, who wouldn’t love it there! All the teams got to stay in the same hotel on different floors and it was a great environment, lots of fun!

Q: What drill or exercise do you enjoy the most?

Gale: I love doing band + block. It really helps me with my block starts and I am able to focus on form.

Q: If you could do any other event in track and field, which would you choose?

Gale: I would love to do long or triple jump. I think getting to be so explosive and landing in sand would be fun!

Q: What is your go to pre-competition meal?

Gale: I usually have something protein filled with lots of veggies and fruit!

Q: What is in your warm-up playlist?

Gale: I usually go with rap.

Q: What are you binging on Netflix right now?

Gale: It’s always HGTV. I love the home renovation shows!

Q: What book are you reading/most recently read?

Gale: I have been reading my HDFS 350 (Applied Research Methods) textbook! I’m taking a summer class so that’s what has been taking up most of my time recently.

Q: What are you looking forward to the most about competing in your first Olympics?

Gale: I think just getting to take in the atmosphere even though it might be a little different this year. Getting to be surrounded by and competing against amazing athletes will be a great experience. Getting to see the Athlete village with the Olympic Rings everywhere is gonna be awesome too!

The women’s 4×400 metre heats are scheduled for 6:25 am EDT Thursday morning. Canada will run in the second of two heats. The top three plus the next two fastest times will qualify to Saturday’s final.

For more information on Tokyo 2020 and links to results and the live stream, check out our Tokyo Olympic Hub.