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In a celebration of exceptional talent and dedication, the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club honoured its top performers at this year’s awards ceremony. The event capped off a triumphant year for the club, which not only claimed the Ontario Overall Club title for the first time since 2015 but also added U20 and U18 age group titles to its illustrious history—bringing the club’s total to nearly 60 provincial team titles over the past quarter century. The ceremony recognized achievements that spanned national and international competitions, highlighting athletes who not only broke records but also continued a legacy of excellence.

Track Stars Lauren Gale and David Adeleye Shine Again

For the second consecutive year, Lauren Gale and David Adeleye were named recipients of the prestigious Gilbert Award, recognizing them as the top male and female track athletes. Both have dominated their respective events over the past two seasons. Gale, an Olympic finalist in the 4x400m relay and national record holder at 300 metres, further cemented her status as Canada’s premier 400-metre runner this year, setting a Club record of 50.47 seconds—the fastest time by a Canadian woman since 1992.

Adeleye, who captured silver at the National Championships in the 110-metre hurdles, set a personal best of 13.84 seconds, placing him third on the Club’s all-time list. Adding to his accolades, he set a new Club U23 record in the 60-metre hurdles (7.83) and earned a USports silver medal while representing the University of Toronto.

Throwers rule the field

This year’s recipient of the Gilbert Award as Male Athlete of the Year (Field) is Connor Fraser, whose standout performance in discus earned him a silver medal at the National Championships. Fraser, last year’s Top U20 Male Athlete, continued his strong form with gold in the Athletics Ontario Championships in discus and multiple top-10 finishes in his first year in the senior category.

Jessica Gyamfi was honoured with the Gilbert Award for Female Athlete of the Year (Field) after claiming gold in discus at the Athletics Ontario Championships. Gyamfi was also a finalist in both the shot put and discus at this year’s Olympic Trials, as well as a finalist at the USports Championships in both events.

Rising Stars: U18 Athletes Lead the Next Generation

Jorai Oppong-Nketiah, a rising star in Canadian sprinting, was unsurprisingly named the Most Outstanding Female U18 athlete for 2024. Oppong-Nketiah, who won last year’s U16 Female Award, shattered the Canadian U18 record in the 100 metres with a blistering time of 11.38 seconds, claiming gold at the Canadian U20 Championships. She also completed a second consecutive sprint double at the Royal Canadian Legion Championships, setting a meet record in the 100 metres.

Zach Jeggo became just the third boy in club history to win Outstanding U18 Performer two years in a row. The 17-year-old captured seven national championship medals across U18 and U20 competitions this season. Among the highlights was his meet-record victory in the 400-metre hurdles at the Royal Canadian Legion Championships. Jeggo also earned silver in the 400 metres and added relay medals in both the 4×400 and 4×100 events. At the U20 Championships, Jeggo took home additional medals in hurdles, the 400m, and the 4×400 relay.

Legacy of Excellence

Bianca Borgella claimed the Sam Estwick Memorial Award for the fourth consecutive season, solidifying her status as the most outstanding para athlete. Borgella, who competed in the 2024 Paralympics, broke the national T13 100-metre record twice this year, finishing with a best time of 11.92 seconds—ranking fourth globally.

In the Masters category, Wendy Alexis was named Most Outstanding Masters Athlete for an astounding 12th time. Alexis, last honoured in 2020, added to her impressive career by winning the world title in the W65 100 metres and taking silver in the 200 metres this season. Her induction into the Canadian Masters Hall of Fame served as the crowning achievement of a year that reaffirmed her place among the world’s best.

Mike Conway, this year’s Male Most Outstanding Masters Athlete, had a stellar season, winning gold in the M40 800 metres at both the National Championships and the Pan-American Masters Games, along with a silver in the M40 400 metres.

Honouring the Future of Athletics

The ceremony also celebrated the club’s younger athletes, with Liam Davis and Kathryn Moreland recognized as the Outstanding Performers in the U20 category. Davis excelled in the shot put, earning silver at both the National and Athletics Ontario Championships, while Moreland’s excellence in the heptathlon earned her silver at nationals and gold in the pentathlon at the Canadian Indoor Championships.

In the U16 division, Max Cazabon and Mallea McMullin were named Outstanding Performers. Cazabon earned gold in high jump at the Athletics Ontario Championships and the Ontario Summer Games, while McMullin dominated the javelin, claiming victory at every championship she entered in 2024, culminating in her first national title at the Royal Canadian Legion Championships.

Jake Claydon-St. John took home the Male U14 Outstanding Performer award, showcasing his versatility across middle-distance running and field events. Claydon-St. John medalled at the Ontario Championships in the 800m, 1200m, and 2000m events, and also secured bronze in the shot put, making him the only athlete in club history to win provincial medals in both a distance event and a field event in the same year.

Cross-Country and Combined Events Standouts

Kevin Robertson was recognized as the top male cross-country performer following his first-place finish at the Athletics Ontario Championships. On the women’s side, Nina Gunther and Maddie Seaby were co-honoured for their achievements, with Gunther leading the senior women’s team to provincial gold and Seaby finishing top-12 at the Canadian Championships.

In the combined events category, Kyle Waldrum and Kathryn Moreland were acknowledged for their achievements in decathlon and heptathlon, respectively. Waldrum earned silver at the Ontario U20 Championships, while Moreland was a two-time national medallist.

A Year to Remember

The Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club congratulates all of this year’s award winners for their exceptional dedication and achievements. As the 2024 season draws to a close, the athletes continue to set the bar for excellence, inspiring the next generation of track and field stars.