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Fast Times, Big Wins: Ottawa Lions Dominate Weekend Road Races

by linkinbioLocal

A busy weekend on the roads produced a number of top performances for Lions athletes from Longueuil to Toronto and in between.

At the Demi-Marathon de Longueuil 10km, Salome Nyirarukundo continued her success on the road, claiming victory in the women’s race. The 26-year-old crossed the line in a swift 33:55, a new personal best since joining the club. This performance ranks Nyirarukundo third all-time in the 10km road race for the Lions, behind only Sarah Dillabaugh and Nathalie Coté. 

Nyirarukundo later took to Instagram to thank those who have supported her journey, saying, “My coaches Ray, Helen, Richard, Felix, my team, group, without good people around me, I couldn’t make this happen.”

On the men’s side, Ottawa’s André Alie-Lamarche put in a breakthrough performance, finishing 7th in the competitive field with a time of 30:30. His time improved upon his previous best by nearly 90 seconds, moving him from 25th to 14th on the Lions’ all-time 10km rankings.

Meanwhile, at the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Joshua Cassidy continued his winning ways. Competing in the wheelchair division, the veteran racer took home top honours, finishing the race in 1:38:09. Reflecting on his busy marathon schedule, Cassidy shared on Instagram, “Fourth marathon in five weeks, one more to go! Always great to be on the Toronto streets and seeing familiar faces. Only a small field here, but great to have a hard training while promoting the sport, bringing awareness to the event and drawing future participation.”

In the half-marathon, Terry Rushworth delivered a solid performance, finishing 67th overall in a time of 1:18:15. The 50-year-old now ranks ninth in Club history. 

Locally, at the 9 Run Run event in Stittsville, Ken Lorbetskie emerged victorious in the 10km race, completing the straight back and forth course in 34:28. In the 5km race, Adriano Padoin-Castillo put in a strong effort to take the win, crossing the line in 17:12.

(Ottawa, CANADA - 28 September 2024) André Alie-Lamarche competing at the Capital XC Challenge at Mooney’s Bay Park. 2024 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Alie-Lamarche Shines at Capital XC Challenge, Lions Dominate Elementary Races

by linkinbioLocalUniversity

The Ottawa Lions were out in full force yesterday at the Capital XC Challenge, hosted at Mooney’s Bay Park under clear, sunny skies. Temperatures in the mid-20s set the stage for a great day of racing, and André Alie-Lamarche delivered the headline performance, securing second place in the open/university men’s 6km race.

Alie-Lamarche, fresh off a victory at St. Lawrence the previous week, made an aggressive start, surging to the front of the pack. However, Laval’s defending USports Champion, Philippe Morneau-Cartier, proved too strong, breaking away in the second lap to win comfortably in 18:14.86. Alie-Lamarche crossed the line in an impressive 18:41.59, capping off a strong week of competition.

The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees men finished 7th overall with 193 points, led by William McLeish, who completed the course in 20:36.31. Carleton University’s top finisher was Nicholas Parsons, placing 95th overall.

On the women’s side, Melina Hamel once again led the Gee-Gees, finishing 23rd in a time of 24:07.53. The Gee-Gees women mirrored the men’s result, also placing 7th in the team standings. Carleton’s Sarah Gross, a first-year student, made a strong debut, finishing 45th overall. Notably, Liz Maguire, fresh from a silver medal in the World Masters 1500m, placed 48th.

In the elementary school division, the Lions dominated the day, capturing all six team titles across three age groups, showcasing the strength of the club’s developmental programs.

In other cross-country action, Amelia Van Brabant made her collegiate debut for Boston College, running in the prestigious Nuttycombe Invitational at the University of Wisconsin. Van Brabant placed 46th in the Women’s “B” race, completing the 6km course in 22:50.2, marking a solid start to her collegiate career.

Full results from Capital XC Challenge are available on our website.

(Ottawa, Canada---19 June 2024) Keira Reaney competing at Ottawa Summer Twilight Meet #3 at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Copyright 2024 Miles Ryan Rowat / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Lions set over 80 personal bests at Twilight #3

by linkinbioLocal

The hottest day of the year brought about a one hour delay to the kick off of the third Twilight Meet of the summer on Wednesday. However, neither of those issues were noticeable on the track or in the field as Lions athletes put up over 80 personal best performances on the evening. 

In addition to the many personal bests, a highlight of the meet was the qualification rounds for the Ontario Fastest Kid Competition. In the 100 metre races, Autumn Marks and Jediael Oppong-Nketiah emerged victorious in the girls’ and boys’ categories, respectively. Both athletes will advance to the provincial finals next month in Toronto.

Among the standout performers on Wednesday were Tansei Tan and Eli Mordel in the 110 metre hurdles. The pair of grade 10 students posted  times of 14.80 and 14.81 seconds respectively. Tansei and Eli now sit sixth and seventh respectively in Canada this year for U18 runners. They join fellow Lions Timeo Atonfo, Jonah Gratton, and Simon Salisbury who sit third, fourth, and fifth in the national rankings.

In the women’s triple jump, Elizabeth Moreland and Ella-Grace Gilbert each produced personal bests. Moreland’s leap of 11.42 metres places her 9th on the Club’s all-time U23 rankings, while Gilbert’s jump of 11.19 metres ranks her 14th.

Former OFSAA Champion Kai Gibson-Guevara achieved a new personal best of 1.95 metres in the high jump. His impressive clearance ranks 5th on the Club’s U18 all-time list and is currently the second highest jump by a U18 competitor in Canada this year.

Full results from the meet can be found on our website.

Photos from the competition can be found on Mundo Sport Images website.

Updated Club rankings are available at https://milesrowat.shinyapps.io/ottl_rankings/

(Windsor, Canada---02 June 2024) Lauren Gale races to win the 400m in meet record time at the 2024 Johnny Loaring Classic held at the University of Windsor. The competition is part of the Athletics Canada National Track and Field Tour and the World Athletics Continental Tour. Photograph Copyright 2024 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Gale Surpasses Olympic Standard Again in Edmonton Victory

by InternationallinkinbioLocal

She does it again. For the second time in nine days, Lauren Gale dipped under the qualifying standard for this summer’s Olympic Games. Racing at the Edmonton Athletics Invitational Thursday, Gale roared around the track at the University of Alberta’s Foote Field in a blazing 50.83 seconds to take home the gold. 

Gale can guarantee her spot in Paris with a win at the upcoming Canadian Olympic Trials in Montreal scheduled for the end of the month. She is currently ranked as Canada’s fastest runner over 400 metres, having produced the fastest time by a Canadian in over 30 years last week when she set a new Club record at the Royal City Inferno. 

Also in Edmonton yesterday, David Adeleye made his return to the track after a fall at the Johnny Loaring Classic in Windsor. The recent University of Toronto graduate placed eighth in the 110 metre hurdles with a time of 14.09 seconds. 

On the other side of the Atlantic yesterday, Bianca Borgella continued her preparation for the Canadian Trials and Paralympic Games with a silver medal run in Paris. Competing at the IPC Grand Prix event in the French capital, Borgella battled a stiff -2.1 metres per second head wind as she crossed the line in a time of 12.28. The double medalist at last year’s World Championship is currently the top ranked 100 metre runner in the T13 category.

Closer to home, Twilight Meet #2 took place Wednesday night with 59 personal bests being set by Lions athletes. Two athletes in particular shone in the 300 metres, with both Stephan Balson and Ange-Mathis Kramo producing all-time top 10 marks. Balson won the event in a time of 34.58 seconds to move to eighth on the U20 list while Kramo finished second in 34.97 to sit fourth on the U18 list. 

Results from Twilight Meet #2 are available on our website.

Photos from Twilight Meet #2 are available on Mundo Sport Images website.

Updated Club rankings can be found at https://milesrowat.shinyapps.io/ottl_rankings/

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May’s Athletic Triumphs: Canadian Records, High School Stars, and Exciting Competitions

by High SchoolInternationallinkinbioLocal

The month of May burst into action with remarkable performances from Lions athletes across three countries.

World Relay Championships: Lauren Gale led Canada to a new national record in the mixed 4×400 meter relay during the World Relay Championships in The Bahamas over the weekend. Gale and her team secured third place in their heat, clocking in at an impressive 3 minutes and 14.66 seconds. Although they narrowly missed the top two spots required for automatic Olympic qualification, their performance bested the previous national mark of 3:15.20 set at last year’s Canadian Championships.

Trials of Miles Friday Night Lights: André Alie-Lamarche showcased his talent by finishing fifth in the 1500 meters event at the Trials of Miles Friday Night Lights event in New York’s Icahn Stadium. Crossing the finish line in 3 minutes and 48.85 seconds, Alie-Lamarche delivered his second-best performance of the year.

Run Ottawa’s Run to Empower: In Ottawa, two Lions athletes made their mark at Run Ottawa’s Run to Empower event. Adriano Padoin-Castillo claimed victory in the open 5-kilometer race, clocking in at an impressive 16 minutes and 44 seconds. Saoirse Kealey secured a top-10 finish in the Ottawa’s Fastest Woman 5km section, crossing the line in 18 minutes and 54 seconds.

uOttawa High School Invite: The uOttawa High School Invite saw a significant turnout over both days, with outstanding performances. Stephan Balson of Lisgar dominated the senior boys’ events, setting a personal best of 10.89 seconds in the 100 meters and finishing second with a time of 21.96 seconds in the 200 meters.

Ange Mathis-Kramo from Paul-Desmarais School made an impressive start to the season by clinching victories in both the junior boys’ 100 and 200 meter events. His time of 11.09 seconds in the 100 meters set a new meet record, while his 200 meter performance of 22.42 seconds showcased his dominance in the field.

Jorai Oppong-Nketiah continued her stellar form from last season by sweeping the 100 and 200 meter events, setting new records in both categories. Her windy 100 meter time of 11.99 seconds broke a 13-year-old record, while her 200 meter victory in 25.34 seconds shaved off an impressive 2.5 seconds from the previous record set in 2023.

Looking ahead, the high school action continues with the National Capital Classic, and the outdoor season kicks off with the Spring Kick Start meet on Friday and Saturday.

For updated club rankings, visit this link.

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Largest Ever Ravens Last Chance Meet Set to Begin Friday night

by linkinbioLocal

Anticipation is high as the Carleton Ravens USport Last Chance Meet gets set to kick off this evening at the Dome @ Louis-Riel. Nearly 40 teams, including 14 esteemed university programs are set to battle it out on the track and in the field this weekend in what promises to be a thrilling showcase of athletic prowess and fierce competition.

The excitement kicks off on Friday night at 7:00 PM with a select number of events and relays, resuming Saturday morning with the U16 section

The excitement kicks off on Friday night at 7:00 PM with a select number of events and relays, resuming Saturday morning with the U16 section at 9:00 AM and the open section at 10:30 AM, attracting a diverse array of talented athletes eager to test their skills on the track.

Among the notable competitors gracing the event are Olympians Lauren Gale and Salomé Nyirarukundo, proudly representing the host Ottawa Lions. Additionally, spectators can expect to witness the incredible talents of world championship competitors Bianca Borgella (Lions), Jean-Simon Desgagnés, and Lionel Muteba as they vie for victory.

This prestigious competition serves as a crucial final test for university squads before they head into the conference championships next weekend and the highly anticipated USports Championship three weekends from now, adding an extra layer of intensity to the competition.

An impressive lineup of 18 athletes featured in the USports top-12 rankings will be in action, accompanied by six relay teams, promising an electrifying display of athleticism and sportsmanship.

With nearly 600 entries for this weekend’s event, the Carleton Ravens USport Last Chance Meet is poised to captivate those in attendance and showcase the incredible talent and dedication of athletes from across the nation.

For more information and updates, please visit our website.

(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

by linkinbioLocalUniversity

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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Timeo Atonfo and Zachary Jeggo Receive Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards

by ClublinkinbioLocal

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.

 

(Ottawa, Canada---30 September 2023) Nina Gunther (546) of the Ottawa Lions races at the 2023 Capital XC Challenge at Mooney’s Bay Park in Ottawa. Photograph Copyright 2023 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Günther tops field at Capital XC

by High SchoollinkinbioLocalUniversity

A week after a second place finish in New York, Nina Günther moved up a spot to take the win yesterday in the open women’s race at the Capital XC Challenge. The former Gee-Gee runner kept the visiting Queen’s Gaels from a complete sweep of the podium with her victory. Günther bested  Lauren Lowther by more than six seconds to win in a time of 23 minutes and 13.45 seconds on the six kilometre course. 

Running for Queen’s, Elizabeth Vroom placed fourth in the 36 runner field with a time of 23:55.11. The top runner for the Gee-Gees was Melina Hamel in 21st, while Bryn Reyonds was first across the line for the Carleton Ravens in 26th. 

Like Günther, the Gee-Gee’s André Alie-Lamarche found his way back on the podium as well this week. Following his win at St. Lawrence, Alie-Lamarche placed third behind the Queen’s Gaels’ duo of Miles Brackenbury and Jude Wheeler-Dee. André crossed the finish line of the six kilometre course in a time of 18 minutes and 52.45 seconds, about just a few strides back of silver. 

David Birinberg of the Ravens was his team’s top finisher, crossing in 21:05.29 for 22nd place. 

Friday’s high school section saw a number of Lions ascend the podium. Joceyln Giannotti and Grace Streek finished second and third respectively in the varsity girls four kilometre race. Kyra Lauter took top spot in  the junior varsity race. 

On the boy’s side, it was a clean sweep in the varsity section with Noah Smith of Immaculata taking top spot. Following next were training partners Matteo Padoin-Castillo and Cohen Kaye. Charlie Mortimer was the boys junior varsity champion. 

Elsewhere in cross country action, Maddie Seaby made her NCAA debut for the Louisville Cardinals as she placed 73rd in the Live in Lou XC Classic. At the North Carolina Open/Masters XC Championships, Gilles Frenette placed second in the 45-49 category and tenth overall.

Full results from the Capital XC Challenge and a link to photos are available at https://ottawalions.com/results/2023-results/

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Lions celebrate success of 2022-23 season at awards banquet

by ClublinkinbioLocal

Under the famous sunset of the Terry Fox Athletic Facility, the Ottawa Lions celebrated the best of the 2022-2023 season Saturday night at their annual Awards Banquet. The evening provided all involved with an excellent opportunity to celebrate the many accomplishments of the past season including a second straight Canadian Championship for our U18 girls cross country team, multiple international medalists, and a number of Canadian records. 

The highest honour bestowed upon a Lions athlete is the Gilbert Award, named in honour of Olympic Champion Glenroy Gilbert. Handed out to the most outstanding male and female athletes in the Club for both track and field events. 

For the second straight season, Lauren Gale took home the honour in the women’s track category. The 23-year-old set a new Club record this year at 300 metres with a time of 37.02 seconds. Gale now holds Club sprint records at 200, 300, and 400 metres. 

In addition to her record setting performance, the 2020 Olympian took home bronze and silver medals in the 200 and 400 metres respectively at the Ontario Championships. As well, she finished the season ranked second nationally over 200 metres.

Long jumper Maria Okwechime took home the award for top female in the field events. Okwechime moved to number four on the Club’s all-time list early this season with a leap of 6.13 metres at the Bob Vigars Classic. She would equal the mark two months later as she finished in the top spot at the Canadian Championships. 

On the men’s side, the track award was shared between two recent victors – David Adeleye and Stephen Evans. Adeleye, the winner in 2022, set a Club U23 record indoors over the 60 metre hurdles and followed that up outdoors with his first ever sub-14 second 110 metre hurdles race. The University of Toronto student was also named to his first national team in athletics, representing Canada at the NACAC U23 Championships. Adeleye rounded out his season with his first senior national medal, finishing in the bronze medal position.

Evans finally produced the breakthrough season he had been working for. After besting the Club’s 1000 metre record indoors, the University of Ottawa graduate focused his attention on one of the longest standing records – the 800 metres. The previous mark of 1:47.24 had been set nine years before Evans was born, and in the national final Evans bested it by more than two tenths on his way to picking up his first national medal – bronze. 

Bianca Borgella was recognized for the third straight year as the Club’s top para athlete. The Sam Estwick Award winner had a banner season in 2023 that included her first national team appearance. Competing at the World Para Athletics Championship in Paris, Borgella signalled to the world that she will be a strong medal contender next year at the Paralympics. The University of Ottawa student captured bronze in the T13 100 metres and silver in the 200 metres – both in Canadian record time.

Among the age group award winners, Connor Fraser and Elizabeth Vroom each took home top honours in the Under-20 category. Fraser was a double provincial champion in the shot put and discus in addition to winning gold in the shot put at the Canadian Championships. Vroom placed second in the 3000 metre steeplechase at nationals and was provincial champion. The Queen’s University student also took home the honour of Most Outstanding Cross Country performer. 

Quinn Coughlin and Zachary Jeggo continued what has felt like the longest game of “anything you can do, I can do” as the pair took home top honours among U18 athletes. The pair of grade 11 students had dominating seasons in both the 400 and 400 metre hurdles, with each finishing fourth in both events at the Canadian U20 Championships and picking up a pair of individual medals at the Royal Canadian Legion Championships. 

Topping the U16 category were a pair of record breakers in sprinters Jorai Oppong-Nketiah and Ange-Mathis Kramo. Oppong-Nketiah was a dominating force this summer taking top spot at the provincial championships with the second fastest 100 metres in Canadian history by a 15-year-old. She would follow that up a week later by becoming the first woman in Club history to claim gold in both the 100 and 200 metres at a single Legion National Championship. 

Kramo smashed the Club’s U16 record at 300 metres with a dazzling 35.64 second clocking this summer. The Paul Desmarais student also posted top-5 all-time performances over 100 and 200 metres and helped the Lions’ U20 4×100 metre relay to a provincial title. 

Honours in the Under-14 category went to Atalia Williams and Maxime Cazabon. The pair combined for four medals at the Ontario Championships. Cazabon was provincial champion in the high jump and completed the full set of medals with silver in the 300 metres (Club U14 Record) and bronze over 80 metres. Williams captured a pair of silver medals over 80 and 150 metres.

The remaining award winners were as follows:

  • Mike Conway & Erinn Joseph – Masters
  • Nina Günther & Liz Maguire – Road Running
  • Saul Taler – Cross Country
  • Seb Lalonde & Kirk Dillabaugh – Sean Cole Memorial Award (Dedication to Club Service)

For a full list of current and past award winners, please visit the Annual Awards section of our website.