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Lions sizzle as indoor season heats up

Just two weeks away from conference championships across the continent, Lions varsity athletes are showing peak performances at just the right time, with several impressive results this weekend.

Maddie Seaby set the tone on Friday morning with a significant personal best over 5,000 metres. The University of Louisville freshman clocked an impressive 16 minutes and 46.20 seconds at the Valentine Invitational at Boston University. Seaby maintained consistent laps of 39 and 40 seconds for 25 laps around the Track and Tennis Center, securing second place in the unseeded section.

Seaby’s time has now elevated her to fourth on the Club’s all-time U20 list and 10th overall.

In Boston, Lauren Gale secured her second podium finish in as many weekends, taking second place in the 400 metres on Friday. Despite topping her heat in a time of 53 seconds flat, Gale was surpassed by the University of Houston’s Sydni Townsend in the following heat.

North of the border, impressive personal bests were achieved at the Windsor Team Challenge.

The two-day event kicked off with a bang on Friday night as Katie Manor broke her own University of Ottawa 60-metre record in the preliminary rounds with a blazing 7.53-second performance. Manor finished fourth in the final with a time of 7.54 seconds, once again surpassing her previous record of 7.57.

Bianca Borgella, Manor’s Gee-Gee teammate, also set a new personal best in the 60 metres that night, finishing two spots behind Manor with a time of 7.65 seconds – a hundredth of a second improvement on her previous best.

Carleton’s Rose Basu achieved a pair of personal bests of her own. After breaking eight seconds for the first time with a 7.93 in the heats, the first-year student followed up with an impressive 7.89 in the final, securing 10th place in the two-heat final. Basu’s final time places her third in school history.

Kathryn Moreland demonstrated she is rounding into shape ahead of the OUA Championships in two weeks by producing three personal bests en route to victory in the pentathlon and a new lifetime best score of 3206 points. Moreland’s new individual lifetime bests included a 1.53 metres clearance in the high jump and a leap of 5.23 metres in the long jump, before she topped the field at 800 metres with her 2:28.97 clocking. Moreland’s point total now ranks seventh in Gee-Gee history.

In the field, second-year nursing student Jessica Gyamfi launched the 20-pound weight out to 14.65 metres, moving her to number three on the Gee-Gee’s all-time list. Gyamfi’s previous best was 14.16 metres set in early January.

The weekend of competition concluded on Saturday with a pair of personal bests in the 60-metre hurdle final in Windsor. David Adeleye took the top spot in the event with a sizzling 7.90-second clocking, marking the third-fastest time in Club history. Additionally, the University of Toronto student now ranks second in USports this season. Clubmate Leewinchell Jean produced a lifetime best of his own, finishing fourth in a time of 8.12 seconds. Jean’s time ties him for seventh on the Club’s all-time list with Tyler Fawcett.

Results from this weekend can be found on our results page

For updated rankings, please use the following pages:

Ottawa Lions

University of Ottawa Gee-Gees

Carleton University Ravens

(Montreal, Canada---27 January 2024) Melina Hamel competing at the McGill Team Challenge in Tomlinson Fieldhouse.

Copyright 2024 Miles Ryan Rowat / Mundo Sport Images.

If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Athletes climb all-time lists in Boston

It was a 2-for-1 weekend in Boston, with athletes opening competition at the Harvard Crimson Elite on Friday before rounding things out with the Boston University Scarlet & White Invite meet on Saturday. .

Harvard Crimson Elite:

The Harvard track witnessed outstanding performances, setting the stage for an extraordinary weekend.

Melina Hamel’s Mile Triumph: The spotlight shone on Melina Hamel as she claimed a remarkable 2nd place in the women’s mile, clocking a personal best of 5:07.16. Her stellar run not only secured a podium finish but also elevated her to the 7th position on the Gee-Gees’ all-time list.

Zach Jeggo’s Speed Surge: Zach Jeggo demonstrated his speed and endurance in the 400 meters, setting an indoor personal best of 49.87 seconds and finishing in 8th place.

Quinn Coughlin’s Seasonal Best: Quinn Coughlin showcased her prowess in the women’s 400 meters, achieving a seasonal best of 58.14 seconds and securing a commendable 7th place finish.

Boston University Scarlet & White Invite

The momentum continued at the Boston University meet with a number of standout performances and notable top-10 performances..

Lauren Gale’s Sprint Supremacy: Lauren Gale dominated the competition in the 400 meters with a blazing time of 52.83, securing victory with a margin of 0.5 seconds. She also showcased her versatility, finishing 4th in the 60 meters with a time of 7.66 seconds.

Sydney Smith’s 800-Meter Brilliance: Sydney Smith stole the show in the 800 meters, setting a new indoor personal best of 2:05.10 and securing an 8th-place finish overall.

Kevin Robertson and André Alie-Lamarche’s Mile Milestones: Kevin Robertson posted the second-fastest mile of his life at 4:02.24, finishing 35th, while André Alie-Lamarche shattered his personal best at 4:05.79, earning him the 13th spot in Club history.

Nicolas Belan’s Mile Mastery: Nicolas Belan showcased his potential with a massive personal best of 4:16.35 in the mile, now standing as the 7th fastest among Club’s U20 runners all-time.

Melina Hamel’s Double Delight: Melina Hamel continued her impressive weekend by setting a new personal best in the 3000 meters at BU, clocking in at 10:15.00 and securing the 9th position on the Gee-Gees’ all-time list.

Elsewhere this past weekend, Audrey Goddard, topped the pentathlon field at the York Open.The second year Western University student posted a score of  3237 points over the five disciple event. Also at York, Goddard’s teammate Cora McQuinn dropped a new personal best in the 600 metres to finish fourth. Grace Munro, running for Guelph, also set a new best in the 600 metres, and added another in the 1000 metres for good measure. 

The Lions Varsity programs return to action this Friday, as they head to Windsor for the annual Team Challenge competition. Live results from Windsor will be available on Windsor Timing’s website.

Find full results from Harvard and Boston University on our results page.

Updated rankings
Ottawa Lions Rankings
University of Ottawa Gee-Gee Rankings
Carleton Ravens Rankings

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Lions Athletes Shine Across North America

January ended with a bang this past weekend with a number of Lions athletes putting up a series of outstanding performances.

Kevin Robertson made history by becoming just the fifth runner in the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club’s history, and the first since 2006, to break the 8-minute barrier for the 3000 metres. Robertson’s remarkable achievement was marked by a stellar time of 7:59.58, securing him a commendable 10th place finish in a highly competitive field.

Sydney Smith also showcased her outstanding talent, clocking an impressive time of 2:42.43 in the 1000 metres, which earned her a notable 5th place finish. Smith’s performance was not only a personal best but also shaved more than 5 seconds off her previous record. This remarkable feat catapulted Smith to second position on the Club’s all-time list, behind only Melissa Bishop-Nriagu.

“We are immensely proud of Kevin Robertson and Sydney Smith for their outstanding performances at the John Thomas Terrier Classic,” said head coach Richard Johnston. “Their dedication, hard work, and relentless pursuit of excellence exemplify the values of our club. We congratulate them on their remarkable achievements and look forward to witnessing their continued success through the rest of the season.”

Meanwhile, at the McGill Team Challenge, Adelle MacLeod and Connor Fraser made their mark with three new Carleton Ravens records.

Adelle MacLeod kicked off her meet by etching her name in the Carleton record books as the first woman to break the 11-metre barrier, achieving an impressive jump of 11.01 metres on Friday. She followed this remarkable feat on Saturday by equalling the school long jump record with a stellar leap of 5.00 metres, further solidifying her standout rookie season.

Connor Fraser showcased his remarkable strength and skill in the shot put event, adding 7 centimetres to his own Carleton Ravens record with an impressive heave of 15.27 meters to place third.

In Louisville, Kentucky, Maddie Seaby, currently completing her first year of studies at the University of Louisville, delivered an exceptional performance at the PNC Lenny Lyles Meet. Seaby ran a 12-second personal best of 9:43.34 to secure a fifth-place finish, making her the 8th fastest junior woman at 3000 metres and the 43rd woman in Club history to break the 10-minute barrier.

The varsity programs return to action on Friday as they head to Harvard University for the Crimson Elite meet before heading across town to the Scarlett and White meet at Boston University on Saturday.

McGill Results

Photos

Ottawa Lions Rankings

University of Ottawa Gee-Gee Rankings

Carleton Ravens Rankings

Terry Fox Finish Line

Call for Volunteer Leaders: 2025 and 2026 Canadian Track and Field Championships

Are you passionate about track and field? Do you have experience in event management or a keen interest in contributing your skills to a prestigious sporting event? The Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club, in partnership with Athletics Canada, is thrilled to announce the recruitment of volunteer leaders for the 2025 and 2026 u20/Open Canadian Track and Field Championships, which will also serve as the World Athletics Tokyo Trials in 2025.

Position: Local Organizing Committee
Type of Position: Volunteer
Event Date: Summer 2025 & 2026
Deadline: February 10th, 2024
First Meeting: Saturday, March 2nd, 2024

Volunteer Description:
We are currently seeking dedicated individuals to form the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the upcoming championships. The LOC will play a crucial role in managing various aspects of the event and will meet regularly as we approach the event dates.

Leadership Roles Include:

  • LOC Chair
  • Officials Coordinator
  • Volunteer Coordinator
  • Para-Athletics Lead
  • Medical/Doping Control
  • Timing/Audio/Visual
  • Catering/SOP
  • Sponsorship
  • Awards & Ceremonies
  • Security
  • Special Events
  • Transportation
  • Media

Responsibilities:
Each leader will be responsible for managing a team of volunteers, ranging from 10 to 80 individuals, primarily during the event days. Experience in the respective area you wish to manage is essential, with a priority given to candidates with a track and field background. First-aid/CPR training and a Criminal Record Check (CRC) will be beneficial.

Qualifications:

  • Track and field background
  • Experience in event management
  • First-aid/CPR training (beneficial)
  • CRC required

How to Apply:
If you believe you have the skills and experience to contribute to the LOC, please contact Richard Johnston to express your interest and provide relevant qualifications.

Deadline for Applications: February 10th, 2024

Benefits of Joining the LOC:
Joining the LOC offers a unique opportunity to be part of a prestigious sporting event, network with professionals in the field, and gain valuable experience in event management. Previous experience in hosting championship events will be an advantage.

Don’t miss this chance to be a part of something extraordinary! Join us in making the 2025 and 2026 Canadian Track and Field Championships a resounding success.

For more information or inquiries, please contact rjohnston@ottawalions.com.

We look forward to welcoming you to the team!

(Ottawa, Canada---20 January 2024) Jorai Oppong-Nketiah competing at the 15th annual uOttawa Winter Classic by the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club at the Dome @ Louis-Riel.

Copyright 2024 Miles Ryan Rowat / Mundo Sport Images.

If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Sprinters heat up track at uOttawa Winter Classic

A chill in the air outside, did nothing to cool the performances inside the Dome @ Louis-Riel this past weekend. With nearly 400 athletes in attendance for the 15th annual uOttawa Winter Classic, Lions athletes brought the heat, setting the stage for two days of intense competition and unforgettable moments.

Outstanding Performances:
The meet produced an impressive total of 90 personal bests, reflecting the commitment and hard work of our athletes. Among the standout performances, Jorai Oppong-Nketiah stole the spotlight by breaking the Club U18 60-meter record. In the heats, Oppong-Nketiah set the new record with a time of 7.61 seconds. She followed up with a 7.62 run in the final, securing second place behind the University of Ottawa’s Katie Manor, who triumphed with a 7.61 clocking.

Günther’s Triumphs:
Nina Günther showcased her prowess with a remarkable double feat. On Friday night, she placed third over 3000 meters, breaking the 10-minute barrier with a time of 9 minutes and 57.70 seconds—marking her as the 42nd woman in Club history to achieve this milestone. Günther doubled back on Saturday, conquering the 1500 meters with a swift time of 4:32.18.

University of Ottawa Gee-Gees Dominance:
The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees made a resounding statement at the meet. The women’s 4×200-meter relay team—comprising Bianca Borgella, Emma Martins, Katie Manor, and Sarah Ouangre—claimed victory Friday night with a time of 1:42.57, ranking as the sixth fastest performance in school history. Notably, the quartet’s time currently stands as the 7th fastest in USports this season.

More Victories and Records:
The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees continued their dominance by narrowly winning the 4×400-meter relay in a time of 3:55.33, and securing the 6th position in USports rankings. Third year human kinetics student Vienna Courteau soared to victory in the long jump with a leap of 5.25 meters, while graduate student Heather Grandy secured her third triple jump competition win of the season with an impressive 11.50-meter jump. Ella Gilbert set a new Carleton Ravens record in the triple jump, bounding out to 10.73 meters.

Field Events Excellence:
Jessica Gyamfi of the Gee-Gees claimed second place in the women’s shot put with a personal best throw of 12.39 meters, propelling her to 11th in the USports rankings. She also dominated the weight throw at 14.05 meters. Brianna Asiamah of Carleton emerged victorious in the shot put with a best throw of 13.09 meters.

Men’s Events Highlights:
In the men’s 1000 meters, Lucas Zanetti secured the top spot with a time of 2:31.97, while Cameron Robertson and Eli Mordel showcased their prowess in the pole vault, each clearing a personal best height of 3.20 meters. Connor Fraser of the Carleton Ravens continued his unbeaten streak in the shot put, dominating with a best throw of 14.84 meters and currently holding the 7th position in USports rankings.

Up next:
The varsity programs return to action on Friday as day one of the famed McGill Team Challenge kicks off at Tomlinson Fieldhouse on the campus of the Montreal based school.

Results

Photos

Ottawa Lions Rankings

University of Ottawa Gee-Gee Rankings

Carleton Ravens Rankings

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15th uOttawa Winter Classic Kicks Off a Year of Track and Field Excellence by Ottawa Lions

[Ottawa, January 19, 2024] – The Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club is set to launch the track and field season with the 15th uOttawa Winter Classic, a two-day premier event featuring top university teams from the OUA, RSEQ, and AUS conferences. The competition will take place tonight and tomorrow at The Dome @ Louis-Riel.

This event marks the first of an impressive lineup of 20 track and field meets hosted by the Ottawa Lions in 2024. With nearly 450 entries, the uOttawa Winter Classic promises to be a showcase of exceptional talent and fierce competition. Athletes from 11 university teams will compete in various track and field disciplines, providing spectators with thrilling performances and highlighting the dedication and skill of these student-athletes.

Highlighted Athletes:

– The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees boast five athletes currently ranked among the top-12 nationally, led by André Alie-Lamarche, who holds the fifth-fastest time in the men’s 3000 metres.

– The Carleton Ravens will be led by the shot put duo of Brianna Asiamah and Connor Fraser, who are ranked third and seventh in the nation, respectively.

– Keep an eye out for Jorai Oppong-Nketiah, the double Canadian U16 sprint champion, who will kick off her season in the 60 and 300-metre events.

Event Details:

Date: January 19-20, 2024
Location: The Dome @ Louis-Riel, Ottawa, ON

Participating University Teams:
1. Ottawa Gee-Gees
2. Carleton Ravens
3. Queen’s Gaels
4. RMC Paladins
5. Toronto Varsity Blues
6. York Lions
7. McGill Redbirds and Martlets
8. Sherbrooke Vert et Or
9. Laval Rouge et Or
10. Montreal Carabins
11. Dalhousie Tigers

Quotes:

“We are thrilled to kick off the track and field season with the uOttawa Winter Classic, the first of 20 meets we will host in 2024,” said head coach Richard Johnston. “This event not only highlights the incredible talent of our student-athletes but also sets the stage for an exciting year of competition. We are particularly proud to showcase the outstanding performances of our featured athletes from the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees and the Carleton Ravens.”

Event Schedule:

Friday, January 19
Track events begin at 7:30pm

Saturday, January 20
Track events begin at 11:30pm
Field events begin at 11:00pm

Full schedule available on our website.

Heat sheets available on our website.

Live results available at https://liveresults.ottawalions.com/

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Annual General Meeting to be held Monday, February 5th 2024

The Ottawa Lions will host their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the evening of Monday, February 5th, 2024, at 8:30pm EST. The meeting will take place virtually on Google Meets (Link will be shared the morning of). All members are invited to attend.

Please RSVP using the link below.

Members interested in putting their name forward to sit on the Board of Directors may do so in advance as well as during the meeting.

For further information, questions may be directed to , President, Board of Directors, Ottawa Lions Track & Field Club via email at president@ottawalions.com.

REGISTRATION LINK:

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email. Meeting details will be sent out the morning of February 5th, 2024.

(Canton, United States---02 December 2023) Brianna Asiamah competes at the Saints Holiday Relays held at Newell Fieldhouse.

Copyright 2023 Miles Ryan Rowat / Mundo Sport Images.

If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Carleton Raven Throwers Shine in Sherbrooke

Opening the 2024 calendar year with a bang were a pair of Carleton Raven throwers who demonstrated their potential as formidable contenders in this year’s USports competition. At the Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or competition, which saw a total of 28 new lifetime bests, shot putters Connor Fraser and Brianna Asiamah set new school records.

Fraser, a second-year criminology student at Carleton, has maintained his momentum since securing a Canadian U20 title in the summer. Breaking the school record in his season opener before Christmas, he extended it further on Saturday, crossing the 15-meter barrier with a winning throw of 15.20 meters. This accomplishment places the 19-year-old seventh in the national university rankings.

Asiamah, a graduate student transfer, has made a significant impact on Carleton athletics in her brief four months on campus. Like Fraser, Asiamah has twice broken the Carleton women’s shot put record in the early season, reaching 13.31 meters in her Saturday victory. The Master’s in Social Work student currently holds the third position in the early season USports rankings, just two centimeters shy of the auto-qualifying standard for her third consecutive trip to the national championships.

Aria MacDonald, a fellow Raven and a third-year architecture student, also left her mark in Sherbrooke. Finishing the 1000-meter event in 3 minutes and 7.16 seconds, she claimed fifth place overall, surpassing the previous Carleton record of 3:11.90 set in 2017 by Zeena Rashid.

For the Gee-Gees, the second and third best female triple jumpers in school history took the top two spots in Sherbrooke. Heather Grandy secured the gold with a jump of 11.55 meters, while Sarah Ouangre achieved the second-best jump of her career at 11.20 meters.

Also standing atop the medal podium on Saturday were Alexandra Telford and Maria Okwechime. Telford, making her debut at 600 meters, led the 22-woman field with a time of 1 minute and 36.35 seconds. Okwechime, last year’s Canadian Championships winner, opened her season with a leap of 5.70 meters.

At the Can Am Classic in Windsor, David Adeleye claimed victory in the 60-meter hurdles. The fourth-year student at the University of Toronto covered the five barriers in 8.10 seconds, currently ranking him second in USports.

Full results from Sherbooke are available on our website.

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

For updated uOttawa rankings, please visit https://milesrowat.shinyapps.io/uottawatf_rankings/

For updated Carleton rankings, please visit https://milesrowat.shinyapps.io/ravenstf_rankings/

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Timeo Atonfo and Zachary Jeggo Receive Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards

The Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club is thrilled to announce the outstanding achievements of two remarkable athletes, Timeo Atonfo and Zachary Jeggo, recipients of the prestigious Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards for their exceptional contributions to athletics throughout the 2023 calendar year.

Timeo and Zachary with their Orleans Outstanding Youth Awards

Timeo Atonfo’s Remarkable Track and Field Achievements in 2023:

Timeo Atonfo, an outstanding member of the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club, showcased his exceptional athletic prowess throughout the 2023 season. Atonfo secured a triple-medal victory at the OFSAA Track and Field Championships held in Ottawa, including silver medals in the junior boys long and triple jump events, and a bronze in the 100-metre hurdles. His achievements continued with a pair of bronze medals at the Ontario U18 Championships and valuable contributions to three relay teams at the provincial championship level. Atonfo concluded his outstanding season with a silver medal in the long jump at the Canadian U18 Championships.

Zachary Jeggo’s Phenomenal Season Highlights:

Zachary Jeggo, another exceptional athlete from the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club, had an outstanding season, beginning with a pair of gold medals at the OFSAA Track and Field Championships in the 300 metre hurdles and 400 metres, respectively. At the provincial level, Jeggo secured a bronze medal in the U20 400 metre hurdles. Following two 4th place finishes at the Canadian U20 Championships, Jeggo claimed three silver medals at the Canadian U18 Championships, excelling in the 400 metres, 400 metre hurdles, and as a key member of the record-setting 4×400 metre relay team.

Celebrating Excellence in Youth Athletics:

The Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club extends heartfelt congratulations to Timeo Atonfo and Zachary Jeggo for their well-deserved recognition with the Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards. Their remarkable achievements not only bring pride to the club but also serve as an inspiration for aspiring athletes in the community.

 

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Lions set nearly 2200 personal bests in 2023

With 2023 set to wind down we will be taking some time to look back on the year that was over these remaining days. 

Ask any track and field athlete their personal best is and they are likely to rhyme it off to you before you even uttering the question. It is the key measuring stick for performance improvement and in 2023, we saw lots of improvement!

More than 800 athletes registered a performance in competition over the past 12 months and an astounding 624 of them recorded a new personal best in at least one event. Combined, they amassed a total of 2181 personal best performances in 2023. 

Looking at the ten athletes with the most personal bests in 2023, there are a few similarities among the group. Kyle Waldrum led the list with an incredible total of 16 personal best performances this year. Among the contributing factors was Waldrum’s engagement in the decathlon – an event in which he placed ninth in at the Canadian U20 Championships this summer. 

Kyle was one of three combined events athletes among our top-10 in 2023 for personal bests. University of Ottawa students Thomas Kukla-Colby and Kathryn Moreland each found their way onto the list with a total of 13 and 12 personal bests respectively. 

Table 1 – Top 10 List of Personal Bests by Athlete in 2023

RankName# of Personal Bests
1Kyle Waldrum16
2Augustine Uche15
3Jacqueline Aubin13
3Mason Brennan13
3Thomas Kukla-Colby13
6Connor Rennie12
6Kathryn Moreland12
6Moise Sebakunzi12
9Dylan Dignard11
9Grace Streek11

Among event groups, the sprints saw the most personal bests in 2023, with 892 in total. Not too surprisingly, the largest share came from in the 100 metres with 220. The seldom run 500 and 60 metre events occupied the smallest share with just 38 and 87 personal bests respectively. 

Chart 1. Personal Bests by Event Group

The next highest total of personal bests came from those in the middle distance events. These events include everything from 600 to 3000 metres but excludes the steeplechase. Nearly half of the new lifetime bests were set in either the 800 and 1500 metres with each event producing 110 personal bests during 2023.

Surprisingly, an indoor distance led the way for personal bests among the hurdle events. A total of 95 personal bests were set over the 60 metre hurdles in 2023.

The jumps was more concentrated as the long jump produced 163 of the 258 personal bests in 2023. Next on the list was the high jump with 48 PBs.

Shot put topped the throwing events with 84 personal bests, while the 2000 metre steeplechase and 5km led long distance and road running events respectively.

Rounding out the list, Lions athletes produced five new personal bests in the pentathlon and another three in each of the heptathlon and decathlon respectively.