(Canton, United States---21 September 2024) Andre Alie-Lamarche of Ottawa Lions TF Clubcompeting at the Ronald C Hoffman XC Invitational on the campus of St Lawrence University 2024 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Alie-Lamarche Claims Army Run 5km Title as Lions Excel on the Roads

by linkinbioLocalMasters

Downtown Ottawa played host to the annual Canada Army Run on Sunday, and it was André Alie-Lamarche who stole the spotlight. The University of Ottawa graduate broke the tape in the 5km, clocking 15 minutes, 23 seconds to claim both the overall win and the M25–29 title, leading a series of podium finishes for the Lions.

Lions Crowd the Podium in 5km

A number of Lions followed Alie-Lamarche’s lead, particularly the club’s younger athletes. Noah Mansouri took top honours in the M15–19 division with a time of 16:29, followed closely by teammates Brody Charbot (2nd, 16:51) and Dean Kontogiannis (3rd, 16:53). Charbot’s performance also vaulted him to #3 on the Club’s all-time U16 rankings.

In the boys’ 14-and-under race, Jaiden Taft claimed the win in 17:38, while Lilah Saibil topped the girls’ division in 19:47 and established a new U14 club record in the process.

Rounding out the age-group podiums, Stephen Robinson placed 2nd in the M25–29 division at 16:34, while Jay Sneddon (3rd, M30–34, 18:05), Terry Rushworth (3rd, M50–54, 19:53), and masters runner Barbara Saville (2nd, F60–64, 22:09) all added medals to the Lions’ haul.

Lions Stretch Their Success to 10km and Half

Success was not limited to the shorter distance with a number of Lions featuring in longer events. Hazel Pritchard captured the F14-and-under 10km crown, finishing in 51:17. Her result moves her to second spot on the Club’s all-time U14 list.

In the half marathon, Adam Yakimchuk topped the M15–19 division with a time of 1:23:21, with teammate Olivier Young joining him on the podium in 2nd at 1:24:04. Young’s result also places him #3 all-time on the Lions U18 rankings.

Masters Shine in Berlin

While the Army Run was the focus at home, two Lions were making their mark abroad at the Berlin Marathon, one of the sport’s six World Marathon Majors. Liz Maguire ran 3:25:02 to place 11th in the women’s 55–59 category, while Robert Muir clocked 3:18:09 for 101st in the men’s 55–59. Both results secured coveted qualifying standards for next spring’s Boston Marathon, adding an international highlight to a strong weekend for the club.

(Montreal, Canada---21 June 2024) Michael Conway starts the open 800m at the 2024 Classique d’Athletisme de Montreal. Photograph Copyright 2024 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Lions Shine at Ontario Masters Championships

by linkinbioMasters

Ottawa Lions athletes closed out another successful season of masters competition with strong showings at the Ontario Masters Championships in Toronto last weekend.

Leading the way was Wendy Alexis, who continued her remarkable campaign with double gold in the W70 100m and 200m. Alexis narrowly missed lowering her own world record in the 100m for the fourth time this season, stopping the clock at 14.47 seconds – just 0.03 seconds off the mark. She added a commanding victory in the 200m, winning in 31.06 seconds to cap off a year highlighted by her world-leading mark of 30.39.

On the men’s side, Michael Conway collected a pair of silver medals in the M40 400m and 800m. His 400m time of 54.12 seconds was the third fastest of his career, while his 800m clocking of 2:10.72 stood as his seasonal best. Conway also set a personal best in the 100m, running 12.39 seconds for 11th place.

Rounding out the medal haul was club founder Bob Staveley, the oldest competitor at 91 years of age. Staveley topped the podium in both the shot put and javelin, recording marks of 4.01m and 7.28m respectively.

The championships capped another season of excellence for Lions masters athletes, highlighted by world records, lifetime bests, and a continued legacy of success across the age groups.

(Ottawa, Canada---12 June 2024) J-Angelo Beraldin competing at Ottawa Summer Twilight Meet #2 at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Copyright 2024 Miles Ryan Rowat / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Ottawa Lions Masters Shine with 18-Medal Performance at Canadian Masters Track and Field Championships

by linkinbioMastersNational

While the nation’s top senior athletes were thrilling the home crowd in Ottawa, the Ottawa Lions masters squad was busy making its own mark at the Canadian Masters Championships in Laval, Quebec. Over the three days of competition, Lions athletes captured an impressive 18 medals — including three national titles.

World record holder Wendy Alexis once again demonstrated why she’s among the very best in the world, sprinting to gold in the W70 100 metres. Despite running into a slight 0.5 m/s headwind, Alexis clocked 14.54 seconds — just shy of her own world record — to win by more than four seconds.

The weekend’s biggest medal haul came from thrower J-Angelo Beraldin, who rewrote the club record books with six podium finishes in a single championship. The 65-year-old earned silver in the M65 shot put with a 10.42m effort, and bronze in the discus, javelin, hammer throw, weight throw, and the throws pentathlon. Beraldin’s six-medal total surpassed the previous club mark of five medals, shared by Gean Hemming (1988) and Judy MacDonald (2010).

J-Angelo Beraldin with his six medal haul

Beraldin was joined on the throwing podium by teammates Tom Pincombe and Kleanthis Tsichlas. Pincombe struck gold in the M45 discus with a 34.11m throw, winning by nearly a metre and a half. Tsichlas delivered a dominant victory in the M50 shot put, launching the 6kg implement a personal best 11.34m to win by more than two metres, and added a silver in the discus.

On the track, Michael Conway and Lawrence Williams each collected two medals in the 200m and 400m. Conway earned silver in the M40 200m (24.73) and bronze in the 400m (53.89), while Williams doubled up on silver in the M50 events with times of 25.52 and 57.52.

Kimberley Howitt earned silver in the W40 800m (2:24.28) and bronze in the 200m (29.67), while in the 100m sprints, Danette Nearing-Guibord claimed W60 bronze and Michel Smith took M55 bronze.

The masters domestic season wraps up next weekend with the Ontario Masters Championships in Toronto, where the Lions will look to close the year on another high note.

(Ottawa, Canada---11 July 2025) Sydney Smith competes in Ottawa Summer Twilight Meet #6 & CTFL Final at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Copyright 2025 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

CTFL Final Delivers World Record, Club Top-10s, and Nationals Standards

by linkinbioLocalMasters

The Canadian Track and Field League (CTFL) Final, held in conjunction with the sixth meet of Ottawa’s Summer Twilight Series on Friday night, delivered a string of standout performances, including a world record, multiple personal bests, and national championship qualifiers.

Headlining the results was once again Wendy Alexis, who continues to redefine the limits in masters sprinting. The veteran runner shattered her own world record in the W70 100 metres, clocking 14.54 seconds—an improvement on her previous mark of 14.64 set earlier this season. Alexis came heartbreakingly close to rewriting the record books two weeks ago with a 14.51 effort, only to see the wind reading come in at 2.1 m/s, just above the allowable limit. She’ll look to lower the mark even further next month at the Canadian Masters Championships in Laval, QC.

The 800 metres proved particularly fruitful for Lions athletes. Fresh off her fourth consecutive Ontario title, Sydney Smith capped off her week with a tactical win in the CTFL final, crossing the line in 2:05.09. Holding back through the early stages, Smith surged past Royal City’s Sadie-Jane Hickson over the final 200 metres to take the victory.

Sixteen-year-old Ellie McGregor continued her breakout summer with a personal best 2:09.38—nearly two seconds faster than her previous mark—to place fifth overall. She was followed closely by Brooklyn McCormick, whose 2:10.63 was just shy of the lifetime best she set the night before in Toronto (2:10.46).

On the men’s side, Safwan El Mansari finally got the breakthrough he’d been chasing all season. The University of Ottawa student chopped more than half a second off his indoor PB to clock 1:51.81, good for sixth in a tightly contested final and a move from 10th to 7th on the Club’s U20 all-time list.

Also climbing the Club rankings was Jocelyn Giannotti. The University of Guelph runner has dropped a remarkable 10.5 seconds from her 1500m personal best so far this summer, most recently stopping the clock at 4:31.75.

At even longer distances, 18-year-old Daniel Cova made an impressive debut over 5000 metres, finishing fifth in 15:02.13. The time moves him to fifth all-time in the Club’s U20 rankings and meets the qualifying standard for this summer’s Canadian Championships. Teammate Derek Strachan also dipped under the standard, placing seventh overall in 15:20.66.

In the CTFL 400m hurdles final, David Moulongou recorded his fastest time in two years, finishing fifth in 52.29 seconds—just a second behind Jamaican winner Sean Kalawan. Moulongou’s time ties him for seventh on the Club’s all-time list with Stuart Pearson.

In field events, Jessica Gyamfi continued her winning ways, claiming top honours in the CTFL shot put final with a best of 13.25 metres. In the men’s competition, Liam Davis led the field with a throw of 15.10 metres. Meanwhile, Maria Okwechime posted a season’s best of 5.91 metres in the long jump as she sharpens up for the Canadian Championships.

Rounding out the night’s highlights, Zachary Jeggo raced to a runner-up finish in the CTFL men’s 400m final, stopping the clock at 47.74 seconds.

With the Canadian Championships now less than three weeks away, Friday’s performances offer plenty of momentum heading into the season’s most anticipated competition.

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Alexis Sets Three World Records at World Masters Indoors; Maguire Medals Again

by InternationallinkinbioMasters

The World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships wrapped up this past weekend, and Ottawa Lions athletes made their presence felt on the global stage—none more so than Wendy Alexis, who celebrated her 70th birthday in unforgettable fashion.

Just two days after entering a new age category, Alexis delivered a jaw-dropping performance in the W65 200 metres preliminary round on last Thursday, clocking 30.68 seconds to set a new World Indoor Record for the W70 age group. Though entered in the W65 category—as age groups are based on the athlete’s age at the start of the championship—Alexis’ performance instantly rewrote the history books.

She wasn’t done.

Later that same day, Alexis dropped under the previous W70 record once again in the semi-finals and then sliced off another 0.35 seconds in the final, crossing the line in 30.33. Despite finishing fourth and narrowly missing a podium spot by just 0.03 seconds, Alexis left no doubt about her world-class speed. Prior to the Championships, the W70 record stood at 31.17 seconds

But Alexis’ crowning moment may have come in the relays, where she anchored Canada’s W65 4x200m team to a World Record. The team finished in 2:07.42, obliterating the previous mark of 2:09.74 and winning by nearly 10 seconds over the United States.

“Didn’t just break it — SMASHED IT! By 2.50 seconds,” Alexis shared via email about the team’s record setting run. “I was the anchor and I’m sure that was the fastest 200 I’ve ever run. I was flying! We all were! This has been a freakin’ amazing meet for me. I felt as if I could run down anybody!”

Alexis also helped Canada to silver in the mixed 4x200m relay, leading off a team that finished in 2:03.14, behind the USA’s 2:01.53.

“Back home tomorrow,” she added. “As exciting as this has been (huge adrenaline rush daily), I’m looking forward to some quieter time.”

Meanwhile, Liz Maguire continued her impressive form, picking up silver in the W55 1500m on Saturday. Her time of 4:59.48 was not only her fastest of the season but also her quickest since 2017. The race was won by Michelle Rohl of the USA, who set a championship record of 4:50.34. The result mirrored last year’s outdoor world championships, where Maguire also finished second behind Rohl.

Several other Ottawa Lions athletes were in action:

  • Michael Conway ran a personal best of 53.40 in the M40 400m, finishing 11th overall.
  • Mike McInerney placed 14th in the M55 1500m with a time of 4:58.10.
  • Lawrence Williams clocked 25.87 in the M50 200m, finishing 19th—just one spot shy of advancing to the semi-finals.

With multiple medals, world records, and season-best performances, the World Masters Championships proved that age is just a number—and the Lions continue to roar on the global stage.

Roy Races to First Provincial Medal

Back in Toronto, the next generation of Ottawa Lions athletes was making strides of their own at the Ontario U14 & Rising Stars Indoor Finale.

In the U14 girls 800m race walk, Penny Roy captured her first provincial medal, earning silver with a time of 5:09.27. The performance marked a significant improvement from her previous best, set earlier this month at the Quebec Indoor Championships, and capped off a strong indoor season for the young athlete.

(Ottawa, Canada---16 August 2023) Wendy Alexis competes in the 200m at Ottawa Summer Twilight Series Meet #11. Copyright 2023 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images.

Alexis Wins Gold, Maguire Adds Bronze at World Masters Indoor Championships

by InternationallinkinbioMasters

When most people hear you’re heading to Florida in March for a track and field meet, they assume you’re chasing an early start to the outdoor season — soaking up the sun and easing into competition. But for seven Ottawa Lions athletes, there’s no easing up. They’ve touched down in the Sunshine State for the World Masters Indoor Championships, and they’ve come to race.

Case in point, just three days into the Championship and Lions athletes have already set the Gainesville track on fire with a pair of medals and another top-8 finish.

Wendy Alexis gave herself an early birthday present on Monday — a world title. Just one day shy of turning 70, the Ottawa Lions sprinter stormed to gold in the W65 60 metres, clocking 8.95 seconds to edge Puerto Rico’s Marie-Lande Mathieu by just 0.07 in a thrilling final. It was her final day of eligibility in the age group, and she made it count — finishing just 0.15 seconds shy of the world record. The retired school teacher now adds another global title to her resume, having won the W65 100 metres at last summer’s outdoor championships.

Liz Maguire also reached the podium Monday, racing to bronze in the W55 800 metres. After winning her heat in 2:44.93 on Sunday, the three-time Canadian masters champion sped to an 2:32.40 in the final — her fastest indoor 800 since 2017 and her quickest overall since 2019. Maguire battled it out from the gun with Australia’s Caroline Fox with the pair never more than a step away from each other all race. The result also marked Maguire’s first global medal at the distance, following a silver in the 1500 meters at last year’s outdoor championships.

In the W40 division, Kimberley Howitt made a couple big steps in her running career. First, Howitt posted a lifetime best of 2:24.67 in the heats to nab the eighth and final qualifying spot. Then in Monday’s final, the 40-year-old ran another personal best in the final, finishing with a time of 2:23.73.

On the men’s side, Gilles Frenette was busy with a double. He placed 14th in the M45 800 metres heats (2:14.22) on Sunday and returned for another 14th-place finish in today’s 3,000 metres, crossing in 10:52.26. Mike McInerney finished 13th in the M55 800 metres, clocking 2:26.35.

The Lions are back in action on Wednesday as Lawrence Williams takes to the track in the M50 200m heats. Action continues through the weekend with the Championships wrapping up Sunday.

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Small but Mighty: Ottawa Lions Impress at Canadian Masters Indoors

by linkinbioMastersNational

A small but mighty group of Ottawa Lions athletes delivered a number of standout performances at the 2025 Canadian Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships this past weekend, bringing home multiple national titles and podium finishes from the James Daly Fieldhouse on the University of Manitoba campus.

Leading the charge was Lawrence Williams, who captured two national titles in the M50 category, winning gold in both the 400m (59.41) and 200m (25.69). Williams also added a silver medal in the 60m (8.05), further showcasing his sprinting versatility.

Sam Shi also excelled in the distance events, securing gold in both the M30 1500m (4:40.49) and 3000m (9:50.46). Shi dominated both races, winning the 1500m by more than 50 seconds and the 3000m by over two and a half minutes.

In the field, J-Angelo Beraldin made his mark in the throws with a pair of medals in the M65 category. After earning a silver in Saturday’s shot put competition (9.80m), Beraldin upgraded to gold in the weight throw on Sunday, launching the 20-pound ball out to 11.60 metres—winning by more than two metres.

These strong individual performances contributed to an impressive showing for the Ottawa Lions at the championships, as the club finished 11th overall in the team standings.

Ottawa Lions Medalists at the 2025 Canadian Masters Indoor Championships:

  • Lawrence Williams (M50) – Gold, 400m (59.41)
  • Lawrence Williams (M50) – Gold, 200m (25.69)
  • Lawrence Williams (M50) – Silver, 60m (8.05)
  • Sam Shi (M30) – Gold, 1500m (4:40.49)
  • Sam Shi (M30) – Gold, 3000m (9:50.46)
  • J-Angelo Beraldin (M65) – Gold, Weight Throw (11.60m)
  • J-Angelo Beraldin (M65) – Silver, Shot Put (9.80m)

(Ottawa, Canada---26 November 2022) Liz Maguire (1560-- FAXCXM) competing in the 2022 Athletics Canada Cross Country Championships. Photograph Copyright 2022 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Maguire and Lebel Lead Lions on Day One of Ontario Championships

by linkinbioMastersProvincial

The opening day of the Athletics Ontario Cross Country Championships at Lakeridge Links Golf Club in Whitby featured standout performances from the Ottawa Lions’ small but mighty contingent. The highlights of the day came from Liz Maguire and Ronan Lebel, who each reached the podium in their respective races.

Liz Maguire defended her W55 provincial cross country title in commanding fashion, claiming her second consecutive crown. The World Championship silver medalist completed the 5km course in 19 minutes and 23 seconds, finishing more than a minute ahead of runner-up Christy Barber of the Toronto Harriers.

In the W40 race, Kimberley Howitt delivered a strong performance, crossing the line in 20:36 to secure fifth place. On the men’s side, Mike McInerney clocked 20:05 to finish eighth in the M55 category.

Continuing his podium streak, Ronan Lebel earned bronze in the U12 Boys’ 2km race, marking his third medal in as many years at the provincial cross country championships. The 10-year-old crossed the line in 6:13, while teammate Eric Combasson placed 49th in 7:26.

Mélina Hamel capped off a strong cross-country season with a seventh-place finish in the Senior Women’s 8km, completing the course in 29:55.

In the Senior Men’s 8km, Zachary Sikka led the Lions with a 21st-place finish in 25:44. He was closely followed by Ken Lorbetskie (37th, 27:03) and Oliver Waddington (38th, 27:04), who battled to the finish line together.

In the U10 Girls’ 1km, Lisa Yakhlef was the top Lions finisher, taking 16th place in 4:42. Meanwhile, in the U10 Boys’ 1km, Jakob Goguen placed 22nd in 4:49, rounding out the Lions’ efforts on day one.

Live results can be found on Race Roster

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Lions Triumph at World Masters Athletics Championship with Three Medals

by InternationallinkinbioMasters

Following in the footsteps of the Olympic Games, the Ottawa Lions continued to demonstrate their excellence on the international stage, earning three medals at the recent World Masters Athletics Championship, held in Gothenburg, Sweden, from August 13 to 25.

Wendy Alexis, competing in the W65 category, led the charge, securing a gold medal in the 100 metres and a silver in the 200 metres. After a stellar season that included Canadian and Pan American titles, Wendy added a world title to her impressive list of achievements. She claimed the top spot in the 100 metres with a time of 14.46 seconds, narrowly missing her seasonal best of 14.44 seconds.

Wendy’s silver in the W65 200 metres was equally impressive. Battling a strong 2.9 m/s headwind, she clocked in at 30.81 seconds, one of her fastest times this season.

For context, Wendy’s performances equate to a remarkable 11.24 seconds in the 100 metres and 23.62 seconds in the 200 metres when adjusted for age, according to the WMA Age Grading Calculator.

Liz Maguire also made her mark, capturing silver in the W55 1500 metres. Her time of 5:01.80 was her second-fastest of the season and, when adjusted for age, equates to 4:04.46. Liz’s performance adds to the Ottawa Lions’ proud legacy of success on the global stage.

Michael Conway, competing in the M40 category, advanced to the semi-finals of the 400 metres, placing 20th overall. A double medalist at the recent Pan Am Masters Games, Conway also finished 22nd in the 800 metres with a time of 2:08.39.

Also competing in Gothenburg, Michel Smith placed 48th and 52nd, respectively, in the M55 100 and 200 metre events. Lawrence Williams, competing in the M50 200 and 400 metre events, placed 59th and 37th, respectively.

(Ottawa, Canada---19 June 2024) Kimberley Howitt 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 captured 14 medals at Canadian Masters Championship

by linkinbioMastersNational

For the second time this year, the Montreal area played host to a national championship. This past weekend, Canada’s best masters athletes competed at Stade Claude-Ferragne in the suburb of Laval. The small but mighty Ottawa Lions team captured a total of 12 medals over the three-day event.

Wendy Alexis continued to do Wendy Alexis things as she left Laval with a pair of medals in both the W65 100 and 200 metre events. Alexis, fresh off a pair of victories at the Pan American Masters Games, posted winning times of 14.60 and 30.34 seconds respectively. 

In the W40 category, Kimberley Howitt showcased her versatility by capturing a full set of medals. Her highlight was a gold medal in the 400m with a time of 1:04.63, followed closely by teammate Edith Duarte, who finished in 1:05.38 to take silver.

Howitt also earned a silver medal in the 800m with a time of 2:28.42 and a bronze in the 200m, setting a personal best of 29.90 seconds. Duarte edged out Howitt in the 200m, taking home the silver with a time of 29.47 seconds.

Michael Conway dominated the M40 800m, capturing gold with a strong and strategic race. His winning time of 2:06.73 was more than eight seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.

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Two Lions athletes showcased impressive speed in the 100 meters. Lionel Nahum (M50) and Michel Smith (M55) each earned a bronze medal for their outstanding efforts. Nahum clocked a windy 12.66 seconds, while Smith crossed the finish line in 13.68 seconds.

In the field events, Stan Seitz brought home double gold in the M75 category. He cleared 2.25 meters in the pole vault and 1.25 meters in the high jump to secure his victories.

Michel Smith sprinted to a silver medal in the M55 200m, while Mike McInerney secured a bronze in the 800m.

Next up for many of our masters athletes is the World Masters Athletics Championships next week in Göteborg, Sweden.

For updated Club rankings, please visit this link.