Terry Fox Aerial

National team members highlight Twilight #3 start list

by linkinbioNational

For shot putter Brittany Crew, a meet on August 12th would have likely taken place somewhere in Europe, falling in the twilight of a long competitive season that began way back in February. However, with the bulk of the competitive season scrapped as a result of COVID-19, the Canadian record holder finds herself in Ottawa tonight for Twilight #3, competing in just her second meet since that early season trip to New Zealand.

Crew is a leader among a small contingent of Team Canada athletes venturing to Terry Fox for tonight’s competition. The two time world championship finalist will be joined by two members of Canada’s men’s 4×400 metre relay team – Phillip Osei and Daniel Harper. Osei was a member of Canada’s silver medal winning mixed 4×400 metre team at last year’s World Relay Championships while Harper has donned the red and white at both the Pan Am Games and NACAC senior championships.

All three Team Canada athletes are scheduled to compete in their marquee events. Crew’s shot put competition is scheduled for 7:30pm while the Osei and Harper will duel it out over the one lap race around 8pm.

The full schedule of events for tonight’s Twilight is available at ottawalions.com/schedule and live results can be found at liveresults.ottawalions.com

Please remember to complete your health questionnaire before arriving at Terry Fox.

MRR_OTTL_2020Twilight#1_00869_web

Alexis nearly sets world masters record

by linkinbioNational

It’s not every day you come out to the track and almost see a World Record set. Well, for the small number of athletes and coaches in attendance at Wednesday night’s Summer Twilight #2 that’s exactly what they got.

For as long as Wendy Alexis has been around a track, she’s been one of the fastest women in the race. With enough medals to fill a closet and her fair share of records, there has been one that has eluded the retired elementary school teacher – a world record. For a brief moment Wednesday night, she thought she had it.

Running the 100 metres in a heat with competitors up to 52 years her junior, Alexis showed she’s still got what it takes, winning in 13.91 seconds. As the time was announced over the loud speaker, there was a veritable eruption of euphoria just beyond the finish line as Alexis reacted to what would have equaled the current world record in the W65 100 metres held by fellow Canadian Karla Del Grande. Unfortunately, for Alexis the wind gauge had registered a positive 3.0 metres per second to nullify any possible record (the acceptable limit is 2.0 m/s).

Wednesday night’s competition was the second Twilight Meet of our COVID shortened season, and the first open to the athletes from outside the Club. Exactly 100 athletes took part across 17 events, as they ventured to Terry Fox from as far away as Guelph to the west and Montreal to the east.

Those who peaked out at the long throws were treated to some impressive performances in both the javelin and hammer throw. Club Sisu’s Jared Skeath was victorious in the men’s hammer throw. The former USports champion hurled the 16 pound ball out to an impressive 60.07 metres – easily eclipsing the longest distance at any Twilight Meet in recent years. Skeath’s club mate Ashley Pryke had a similar performance in the javelin as she took victory based on her first throw of the competition. The University of Memphis graduate’s best throw of 51.97 metres, was well short of her seasonal best 57.38 set back in February, but was the closest anyone has come to Cheryl Coker’s 1990 meet record of 54.07 metres in some time.

Twilight Meet #3 will take place next Wednesday, August 12th at 6:30pm at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. For more information, please visit ottawalions.com/schedule.

 

TFox Twilight

Ottawa Summer Twilight Series to kick off next week

by linkinbioNational

While originally slated to start back in early June, the Ottawa Lions are excited to announce the 32nd season of Ottawa famous Summer Twilight Series will kick off next Wednesday, July 29th at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility.

“After much work with valued stakeholders like Athletics Ontario, Athletics Canada, and the City of Ottawa, we as an organization are very excited to bring back some sort of normalcy to our members in the form of our long running Twilight Series,” said acting Executive Director Richard Johnston. “After much hard work behind the scenes, we were able to return to formal training just under a month ago, and the framework has been working well. Certainly, providing a safe competitive opportunity to our members was the next logical step for our organization.”

Next week’s event will be open to Ottawa Lions members only before the series expands to allow for registered athletes (both able bodied and athletes with a disability) from all of Canada’s provincial branches.

Given the ongoing risk mitigation strategies related to COVID-19, the Terry Fox Athletic Facility will be enforcing a 100-person capacity, including athletes, coaches, volunteers and meet organizers. Participants are to respect all physical distancing regulations put in place by Ottawa Public Health and those not competing or warming up will be asked to wear a face mask.

For a full list of events offered, series schedules and requirements to participate, please click the following link.