(Montreal, Canada---30 June 2024) Jorai Oppong-Nketiah competing in the 2024 Bell Trials Canadian Track and Field Championships and Olympic Trials. Photograph Copyright 2024 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Lions return from Ontario Championships with 26 medals

by linkinbioProvincial

One week after the Ontario U20/Open Championship it was time for the best U14, U16, and U18 athletes to battle for top spot this past weekend in Brampton. The  more than 60 Lions competing, emerged as a formidable force at the Championships as they set nearly 90 personal bests and brought home an amazing 26 medals in total.

Grace Streek: A Study in Versatility and Endurance

At the heart of the Lions’ triumph was Grace Streek, whose versatility and stamina proved insurmountable. Streek opened the Championship with gold in the U18 Girls 3000 metres, crossing the finish line at 10:17.70, and later dominated the 2000-metre steeplechase with a 15-second margin of victory as she finished in a time of 7:14.59 . Streek also anchored the U18 4×800-metre relay team to victory, combining with Shannon Dewar, Maya Allibon, and Sofia Lefaivre to clock a formidable 10:12.49.

Jorai Oppong-Nketiah: Speed Personified

Jorai Oppong-Nketiah continued to do what Jorai Oppong-Nketiah does – win! The Canadian record holder who blitzed her  way to gold medals in both the U18 100 metres and 200 metres, with times of 11.68 and 24.59 seconds, respectively. Oppong-Nketiah’s prowess extended to the relay events, where she helped secure a bronze in the U18 4×100 metres, running alongside Shannon Dewar, Amy LeBlanc, and Quinn Coughlin to finish in 48.61. The relay performance ranks 10th on the Club’s U18 all-time list. 

Jake Claydon St-John: The Emerging Multi-Talent

In the U14 category, Jake Claydon St-John showcased his burgeoning talent across multiple disciplines. He seized silver in the 2000 metres with a time of 6:28.45, and earned bronze in the 1200 metres (3:34.29), Shot Put (9.55 metres), and 800 metres (2:12.32). We believe Jake may be the first athlete in Ontario to ever medal win three distance events as well as a throwing event at the same Championship.

Maxime Cazabon: Master of the High Jump

Maxime Cazabon soared to new heights in the U16 high jump, capturing gold with a leap of 1.84 metres. Cazabon blew away his previous best heading into the competition by nine centimetres – clearing three new PB heights on first attempt clearances. Maxime’s jump also places him second on the Club’s U16 high jump list. In addition to his jumping success, Cazabon also produced lifetime best performances in both the 100 and 300 metre events. 

Mason Brennan: Record-Breaking Decathlete

The meet also saw a historic performance from Mason Brennan, who set a new club record in the U18 decathlon with a total of 5399 points, securing a silver medal. Brennan produced new lifetime bests in the discus, pole vault and 1500 metres en-route to his Club record performance. 

Lions Medal Winners at the Ontario U14/U16/U18 Track and Field Championships:

Gold Medalists:

– Grace Streek (3000m, U18)
– Grace Streek (2000m Steeplechase, U18)
– Timeo Atonfo (110m Hurdles, U18)
– Jorai Oppong-Nketiah (100m, U18)
– Jorai Oppong-Nketiah (200m, U18)
– Maxime Cazabon (High Jump, U16)
– Shannon Dewar, Maya Allibon, Sofia Lefaivre, Grace Streek (4x800m, U18)
– Brennan Lee, Zachary Mansouri, Noah Mansouri, Charlie Mortimer (4x800m, U18)
– Kyle London, Ammiel Williams, Brody Fraser, Taisei Tan (4x400m, U18)

Silver Medalists:

– Jake Claydon St-John (2000m, U14)
– Kathryn Moreland (Heptathlon, U20)
– Audrey Goddard (Heptathlon, Open)
– Atalia Williams, Olivia Daigle-Dasah, Norah Nitta-MacKay, Livia Buffone (4x100m, U16)
– Mason Brennan (Decathlon, U18) – New Club Record
– Kyle Waldrum (Decathlon, U20)

Bronze Medalists:

– Sadie Gilbert (Shot Put, U18)
– Eli Mordel (110m Hurdles, U18)
– Taisei Tan (400m Hurdles, U18)
– Jake Claydon St-John (1200m, U14)
– Jake Claydon St-John (Shot Put, U14)
– Jake Claydon St-John (800m, U14)
– Vienna Courteau (Heptathlon, Open)
– Shannon Dewar, Amy LeBlanc, Quinn Coughlin, Jorai Oppong-Nketiah (4x100m, U18)
– Riley Daniels, Kira Coldrey, Bianca Arabackyj, Isla Kittmer (4x800m, U16)
– Tayte Timpson, Brady Brown, Jimmy Lu Langley, Jonah Gratton (4x400m, U18)
– Norah Nitta Mackay, Atalia Williams, Olivia Daigle-Dasah (Sprint Medley, U16)

Full results from the Championship are available on our website.
Updated Club Rankings can be found at https://milesrowat.shinyapps.io/ottl_rankings/

(Ottawa, Canada---19 July 2024) Grace Streek competing at Ottawa Summer Twilight #7 at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Copyright 2024 Miles Ryan Rowat/ Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Lions Triumph at Ontario Legion Championships with Multiple Medals

by linkinbioProvincial

A small but mighty crew of Lions competed at the recent Ontario Legion Track and Field Championships at the Toronto Track and Field Centre on the campus of York University. Despite just six athletes donning the District G singlet in the Ontario capital, it did not quell the medal haul with a total of six coming back to Ottawa. 

Grace Streek continued to assert herself as one of Canada’s top up and coming runners. The 17-year-old was the class of the 2000 metre steeplechase – winning in a time of 7 minutes and 15.93 seconds. Streek has been a force all season in the steeplechase, having won every race she’s competed in including two provincial titles. Not satisfied with just one medal, Grace secured a bronze medal over 3000m, finishing in 10:56.56.

Following her victory at the OFSAA Track and Field Championships last month, Mallea McMullin was a favourite to take gold in the U16 girls javelin and she did not disappoint. The Louis-Riel student launched the 500g implement out to a personal best distance of 40.56 metres to easily take top spot in the event. McMullin’s nearest competitor finished over six metres back. 

Also asserting himself as a name to be reckoned with in the javelin was Hudson Kennedy. The soon to be grade 10 student at St. Michael in Kemptville unleashed a massive personal best of 45.04m to take home the silver medal. Kennedy’s performance in Toronto was nearly eight metres better than his qualifying throw when he won the District G Meet the month before.

Eli Mordel continued to show the same versatility that has served him well all season as he medalled in both the 110m hurdles and the pole vault. The Sir Robert Borden student leapt a personal best height of 4.00 metres in the pole vault to secure the silver medal. He added another lifetime best in the 110 metre hurdles, crossing the line in 14.71 seconds to take home the bronze. Mordel’s two performances currently rank him 9th and 11th respectively in Canada for the two events. 

Next up on the schedule for the athletes is this weekend’ s Ontario U14/U16/U18 Championships in Brampton before some head to Calgary for the Royal Canadian Legion Championships the weekend after. 

Full results from the Ontario Legion Championships are available on our website.

(York, Canada---20 July 2024) Brianna Asiamah and Jessica Gyamfi competes at the 2024 Athletics Ontario U20/Open Championships held at the Toronto Track and Field Center at York University. Photograph Copyright 2024 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Medal Rush: Lions Excel at Ontario Track and Field Championships

by linkinbioProvincial

With the largest contingent of athletes in recent memory, the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club took on the rest of Ontario this past weekend, once again demonstrating their dominance in the province. More than 100 athletes competed, securing an impressive 26 medals, including 12 golds, and setting 39 personal bests at the Ontario U20 & Open Track and Field Championships held at the Toronto Track and Field Centre.

Leading the Charge:

From Salome Nyirarukundo’s gold in the 5000 metres on the opening night to the women’s triumph in the Open 4×400 metres relay for the fourth time in five years, the medals kept flowing throughout the weekend. Nyirarukundo’s performance set the tone for the Lions’ success.

In a standout performance, Quinn Coughlin, in her final big meet before the Canadian U18 Championships next month, showed she is ready to compete on the national stage with two gold medals. Coughlin’s personal best of 56.14 seconds earned her the U20 women’s 400 metres title, making her the first Lioness to win the title since Charlotte Gardner in 2012. She followed up with another gold in the 400 metres hurdles, recording the second-fastest time of her career at 1:01.10.

The 400 metres hurdles proved to be a strong event for the Lions, with Rosemary Holmes and David Moulongou also capturing medals. Holmes, a former sprinter from Western University, took the top spot in the Open Women’s event, while University of Ottawa student Moulongou finished third in the Open Men’s event.

Throwers Rise to the Occasion:

The Lions’ throwers collected a total of five medals, including two golds. Connor Fraser and Jessica Gyamfi led the way with a sweep of the Open Discus competitions. Fraser dominated the men’s field, winning by almost three and a half metres with a throw of 50.41 metres. Gyamfi’s victory in the women’s event was equally impressive, with her throw of 41.17 metres besting teammate and silver medalist Brianna Asiamah by nearly six and a half metres.

In the U20 category, the shot put events yielded silver medals for both Liam Davis and Sadie Gilbert.

Sprint to the Finish:

Sydney Smith continued her reign as Ontario Champion in the 800 metres, winning for the third consecutive year. The 27-year-old led a tightly contested race, crossing the finish line in 2 minutes and 5.10 seconds, just ahead of Royal City’s Sadie-Jane Hickson. The crowded field forced Smith to sprint out wide into lane five to find an open path, ultimately winning by less than a second from the sixth-place finisher.

In the Open Men’s 1500 metres, André Alie-Lamarche displayed tactical prowess to win his first provincial championship. Despite a time of 3 minutes and 48.67 seconds being well off his personal best, Alie-Lamarche’s strategic final kick secured the victory by just three tenths of a second.

Relay Success:

The Lions’ relay teams were equally formidable. The Open 4×100 metres relay team, consisting of Cora McQuinn, Audrey Gilmour, Vienna Courteau, and Elizabeth Moreland, sprinted to gold. The U20 4×100 metres team, featuring Jamie Meikle, Ladi Ogunmekan, Connor England, and Ange-Mathis Kramo, also captured gold. Both the Open and U20 4×400 metres relay teams delivered top podium finishes, highlighting the club’s depth and relay coordination.

Medalists:

Open Category:

  • Gold:
    • Salome Nyirarukundo (5000m)
    • Jessica Gyamfi (Shot Put)
    • André Alie-Lamarche (1500m)
    • Cora McQuinn, Audrey Gilmour, Vienna Courteau, Elizabeth Moreland (4x100m)
    • Connor Fraser (Discus)
    • Rosemary Holmes (400m Hurdles)
    • Sydney Smith (800m)
    • Audrey Gilmour, Cora McQuinn, Sydney Smith, Doyin Ogunremi (4x400m)
  • Silver:
    • Maria Okwechime (Long Jump)
    • Briana Asiamah (Shot Put)
    • Stephen Evans (800m)
    • Leewinchell Jean, Luca Nicoletti, David Moulongou, André Alie-Lamarche (4x400m)
  • Bronze:
    • David Adeleye (110m Hurdles)
    • David Moulongou (400m Hurdles)

U20 Category:

  • Gold:
    • Quinn Coughlin (400m)
    • Quinn Coughlin (400m Hurdles)
    • Jamie Meikle, Ladi Ogunmekan, Connor England, Ange-Mathis Kramo (4x100m)
    • William Harris, Safwan El Mansari, Eric Zielonka, Ange-Mathis Kramo (4x400m)
  • Silver:
    • Sadie Gilbert (Shot Put)
    • Liam Davis (Shot Put)
    • Derek Strachan (3000m Steeplechase)
    • Jorai Oppong-Nketiah (100m)
    • Zachary Jeggo (400m)
    • Kathryn Moreland, Sophie Trott, Tatiana Pender, Jocelyn Giannotti (4x400m)
  • Bronze:
    • William Harris (400m)
    • Saul Taler (3000m)

Coach’s Insight:

“We are immensely proud of our athletes’ accomplishments this weekend,” said Richard Johnston, the head coach of the Ottawa Lions. “Their dedication and hard work are evident in their results, including numerous personal bests and a significant medal haul. These achievements highlight the depth and strength of our club.”

In the team competition, the U20 squad leads the provincial scoring race with 124 points, 18.5 points ahead of London Western. With 156 points, the senior Lions team sits in second, 35 points behind Royal City. Both divisional championships wrap up this coming weekend with the combined events championship for both age categories.

For full results from the Championship, please visit our website.

For photos from the Championship, please visit Mundo Sport Images website.

Updated Club rankings can be found on our statistics page.

(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.

Lions Shine with Double-Digit Medal Haul at Ontario Masters Championships

by linkinbioMastersProvincial

Despite fielding just eight athletes, the Ottawa Lions made a significant impact at last weekend’s Ontario Masters Championships. The team brought home a total of 14 medals over the two-day event, including seven gold, with every Lion earning a spot on the podium.

Leading the charge was Wendy Alexis, one of Canada’s most decorated sprint champions. Alexis, a 30-time national champion, secured double gold in the W65 100m and 200m events. Her winning time of 14.44 seconds in the 100m ranks as the third fastest in the world this year, while her 200m time of 30.08 seconds is the second fastest globally, setting her up for success at this summer’s World Championship.

Fellow sprinter Danette Nearing-Guibord also dominated the W60 category, winning both the 100m and 200m titles. Her victories, with times of 17.68 and 38.70 seconds respectively, bring her career total to six championships.

In the middle-distance events, Andrew Heffernan proved unstoppable in the M35 category, capturing gold in both the 1500m and 800m races. Liz Maguire added to the gold tally with a stellar performance in the W55 5000m.

The Lions’ success extended beyond the top podium finishes. Gilles Frenette earned silver medals in the M45 1500m and 800m events, while Mike McInerney took silver in the M55 1500m. Lionel Nahum sprinted to a silver in the M50 200m and a bronze in the M50 100m. Michael Conway completed an unusual double, capturing bronze in both the M40 200m and 800m events.

(Quebec City, Canada---23 February 2024) Brianna Asiamah competes in the shot put at the 2024 RSEQ University Championships held at the University of Laval. Photograph Copyright 2024 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Shot putters lead Ravens at RSEQ Championship

by linkinbioProvincialUniversity

While Canadians associate winter with ice, the slippery surface is not something typically associated with indoor track and field. However, the Carleton University throwers may beg to differ after their slippery experience at the RSEQ Championships in Quebec City last weekend.

Competing on a well-worn portable circle at the PEPS (Pavillon de l’éducation physique et des sports de l’Université Laval), Carleton’s two nationally ranked shot putters had to adjust to their environment when they discovered they could nearly skate across the shot put ring. 

Graduate student Brianna Asiamah shifted her entire approach to the event because of the circle’s slippery feeling. Despite Asiamah scaling back her full rotation throw down to a half turn, she still emerged victorious with a winning throw of 12.48 metres on her first attempt. While the distance was nearly a metre off her school record, Asiamah finished more than a metre and a half ahead of her nearest competitor. With her victory, Brianna also secured her third straight ticket at the USports Championship.

In the men’s shot put, second year student Connor Fraser may have benefitted from his years of experience playing competitive hockey as he seemed unfettered by the slippery conditions. Fraser pushed the 16 pound ball out to a distance of 15.05 metres, less than a foot off his school record, to claim the silver medal. 

On the track, McGill University sophomore Luca Nicoletti had a very productive first RSEQ Championship after missing last season to an injury. Nicoletti opened the weekend of competition on Friday night by helping the Red Birds to victory in the 4×200 metre relay. He would follow up on day two with an individual medal of his own. The engineering student was clocked in a time of 35.71 seconds as he took home the bronze over 300 metres. 

To close out the RSEQ Championships,Audrey Gilmour picked up a bronze medal of her own in the 4×400 metre. Also running for McGill, Gilmour ran the third leg for the Martlets as they finished in 4:00.55, just seven tenths of a second behind Sherbrooke’s silver medal run.

For complete results and photos from the RSEQ Championships, please visit our results page.

For updated Carleton Ravens all-time rankings, please visit https://milesrowat.shinyapps.io/ravenstf_rankings/

(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.

Lions take home five gold from Ontario Masters Championship

by MastersProvincial

Just a week following the Canadian Masters Championships, a small but mighty pride of Lions took to the track at York University for the Ontario Masters Championships. The group of five athletes took home a total of seven medals including five gold. 

As she did a week ago in Montreal, Wendy Alexis easily took home the top spot in the women’s 65 and over 60 and 200 metre titles. Alexis’ winning times of 8.92 and 30.67 are the fastest times in the world for any woman in her age category. 

A pair of gold medals came from 76-year-old jumper Stan Seitz.  The veteran of masters athletics cleared a height of 1.15 metres in the M75 high jump before leaping out to 2.15 metres in the long jump. With his two medals, Seitz has now accumulated over 45 provincial and national medals in his masters career.

Gilles Frenette rounded out the list of gold medalists as he took top spot in the M45 Mile steeplechase. While not typically a contested race indoors, Frenette crossed the line in 5 minutes and 54.87 seconds to claim top spot. 

Sam Shi and Mike McInerney rounded out the medal winners for the Lions with silver and bronze medals respectively. Both awards came over 1500 metres, where Shi placed in the M30 event with his 4:33.59 effort and McInerney went 5:16.89 in the M55 event. 

(Windsor, Canada---23 February 2024) David Adeleye competing on Day 1 of the 2024 OUA Track And Field Championships in the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Windsor. Copyright 2024 Miles Ryan Rowat / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Adeleye’s U23 record leads four medal haul from OUA Championships

by linkinbioProvincialUniversity

This year’s OUA Track and Field Championships were a bit of a breakthrough out party for fourth year hurdler David Adeleye. Almost hard to believe for a man in his final year of undergraduate study who holds medals in the sprint hurdles from both USports and the Canadian outdoor championships. 

However, in Friday night’s 60 metre hurdle final, Adeleye did something that had escaped in his previous two attempts – he found his way on to the medal podium at the OUA Championship. In what was likely a preview of the USports final, David took home the silver medal in a club U23 record 7.88 second while the University of Guelph’s Craig Thorne was first across the line in 7.76. 

Adeleye was not the only Lion’s hurdler competing for the Varsity Blues to put forward a breakthrough performance. Paulina Procyk laid down back-to-back lifetime bests in the semi-finals and final to finish fifth overall with a blazing time of 8.63 seconds. The performance puts Procyk sixth on the Club’s U23 all-time list and qualified her for the USports Championship.

For the second year in a row, Lizzy Vroom helped Queen’s University to a bronze medal and  school record in the 4×800 metre relay. However, Vroom was not the only Lion helping the Gaels make a 4×800 podium. First year commerce student Nolan Legare led off the men’s squad as they ran a seasonal best of 7:43.33 to claim the silver medal and secure their spot at the USports Championship.

In the penultimate event of the Championship the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees women’s 4×400 metre relay team captured the school’s sole medal of the championship. Running out of the “slow” section, the quartet of Kathryn Moreland, Katie Manor, Sia Mahajan, and Doyin Ogunremi posted a time of 3:55.34, a scant one one hundredth off their seasonal best, to place ahead of Lakehead University. The Gee-Gees last medal in the 4×400 had come nearly a decade ago at the 2015 championships.

While the Gee-Gees were only able to produce one podium finish, they did post their fair share of near misses. In total, the Gee-Gees produced five fourth place finishes over the two day event.

Kicking off the wave of near medal performances was shot putter Jessica Gyamfi on Friday night. The second year nursing student came as close as one could possibly imagine to the podium. With a personal best effort of 12.83 metres, Gyamfi actually finished in a tie for bronze, but lost on the count back as her second best throw was a single centimetre behind that of Guelph’s Meghan Mori. 

Shortly after Gyamfi, Kathryn Moreland culminated the five discipline pentathlon with a fourth place finish. The second year student could take solace in the fact she too set a personal best – amassing a total of 3333 points. 

Doyin Ogunremi, followed as the next event on the track in the 300 metres.The graduating senior posted her fastest time ever on a 200 metre track, crossing the line in 39.77 seconds. Unfortunately for Ogunremi, Western’s Tieghan Wallace narrowly edged her out from the previous heat of the event by a scant five hundredths of a second. 

On the final day of competition, sprinter Katie Manor was part of two fourth place finishes. Over 60m, the third year student lost a tight battle with York’s Janae Brown on the line – 7.54 to 7.56 seconds. Later in the day, Manor led off a Gee-Gees 4×200 metre squad that included Emma Martins, Doyin Ogunremi, and Bianca Borgella which finished in 1:43.07, to finish one place off the podium.

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

Updated rankings are also available:

Ottawa Lions
University of Ottawa Gee-Gees
Carleton University Ravens

20231114_Kevin_Robertson_AOXC

Robertson and Lebel win provincial cross country titles

by linkinbioMastersProvincial

From under-10 to masters runners, triumph echoed throughout the Lions squad at Sunday’s Ontario Cross Country Championships. Battling it out on a challenging course at Toronto’s Downsview Park, the Lions captured six individual medals along with three team medals.

For the first time in more than a decade, a Lions runner took home a provincial senior title as Kevin Robertson took top spot in the men’s eight-kilometre race. The NACAC U23 steeplechase champion bested Melika Ghali of Monarch Athletics Club with a time time of 25 minutes and 6 seconds. 

Also running their way to the top of the podium was Ronan Lebel, who topped the U10 boys race for the second year in a row. Lebel won the one kilometre race in 3 minutes and 58 seconds. Finishing two seconds behind him Ronan was teammate Gustave Côté Hughes for silver. 

Our masters runners brought home a trio of medals led by defending national champion Liz Maguire. The class of the Women’s 55-59 category, Maguire finished the five-kilometre course in 20 minutes and 44 seconds – 13 seconds ahead of second place finisher Christy Barber of the Toronto Harriers. 

Kimberley Howitt nabbed a silver in the Women’s 35-39 category and Jay Sneddon nabbed a bronze in the Men’s 30-34 category. Sneddon’s performance also led the Lions to a team silver in the same category with the help from teammates Fritzlor Auguste and Sam Shi.

In her first post collegiate season, Nina Günther has had tremendous success on the cross country trails this fall. While, she narrowly missed yet another podium performance on Sunday, the University of Ottawa graduate was fifth across the line in the senior women’s eight-kilometre race with a time of 30 minutes and 25 seconds. Teammed with Aria MacDonald (12th), Melina Hamel (13th) and Kylee Fowler (15th) the Lions senior women brought home provincial silver. 

Sunday’s medal for the women was the Club’s first senior team medal at the provincial championships since 2008. That year, the team of Dana Buchanan, Julia Hicks, Robyn Erickson, and Lisa Benzthe were Ontario champions.

Rounding out the medal haul was the U16 girls team, which took home silver behind a dominating win from the Newmarket Huskies. Scoring for the Lions were Kyra Lauter (16), Laila Lebel (20), Dahlia Loreti (21), and Riley Daniels (29). With  a total of 86 points, the quartet narrowly edged out the Durham Dragons and their 89 points.

Full results from Sunday’s races are available online at https://results.raceroster.com/v2/en-US/results/e6jyuaqn3wcjc7nf/results

Oppong-Nketiah_Borgella_AO_AOY

Borgella and Oppong-Nketiah Named Athletes of the Year

by linkinbioProvincial

In the dynamic world of Ontario athletics, two exceptional young sprint talents have been shining brightly in 2023. On Saturday night at the Athletics Ontario Awards Gala, Bianca Borgella and Jorai Oppong-Nketiah were honoured with prestigious awards, highlighting their remarkable achievements in their respective categories.

Bianca Borgella: Para Track Female Athlete of the Year

A resounding round of applause goes to Bianca Borgella, who has been named Athletics Ontario’s Para Track Female Athlete of the Year. This recognition is a testament to her incredible journey in the world of para athletics. Her accolades in 2023 include a pair of medals (silver and bronze) at the World Para Athletics Championship and consistent success on both national and international stages. Her remarkable dedication and determination have not only secured her a place in the record books but have also placed her on a path to competing at the Paralympic Games next summer in Paris. 

Jorai Oppong-Nketiah: U16 Female Athlete of the Year

Jorai Oppong-Nketiah’s meteoric rise in the world of athletics continues to leave us in awe. She has earned the well-deserved title of Athletics Ontario’s U16 Female Athlete of the Year. Her performance in 2023, especially at the Ontario U14/U16/U18 Championships and the Legion Nationals, showcased her exceptional talent. Her record-breaking run in the U16 girls’ 100 meters made her the Ontario Champion and highlighted her as the second-fastest 15-year-old female sprinter in Canadian history. Jorai’s accolades are not just a testament to her remarkable speed but also her dedication and hard work.

Conclusion: Bianca Borgella and Jorai Oppong-Nketiah have not only marked 2023 as a year of exceptional achievements but have also cemented their places as shining stars in the world of athletics. Bianca’s recognition as Para Track Female Athlete of the Year and Jorai’s title as U16 Female Athlete of the Year are well-deserved honours that acknowledge their talent and dedication. As they continue to inspire athletes across Ontario and beyond, we eagerly anticipate the next chapter in their remarkable athletic journeys. Congratulations to these two incredible athletes who have truly earned their places in the spotlight.

(Ottawa, Canada---05 June 2021) Barclay Frost receiving an appreciation award for a lifetime of officiating from Ottawa Lions Executive Director Richard Johnston at the Ottawa High Performance Weekend, held at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Photograph copyright 2021 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images

Barclay Frost honoured with Athletics Ontario Hall of Fame induction

by linkinbioProvincial

The Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club are proud to celebrate the recent induction of local official Barclay Frost into the Athletics Ontario Hall of Fame in the Builder Category. The induction, recognizing a remarkable 65-year journey of dedication to athletics, took place Saturday night during Athletics Ontario’s annual Awards Gala and honours Barclay’s profound contributions as an athlete, coach, educator, official, and executive.

Barclay Frost, an Ottawa native and a true all-around sportsman, began his journey in athletics by setting a high school record in the high jump and subsequently became a Canadian U18 high jump champion. Over the years, he excelled in multiple sports but remained deeply committed to track and field.

As an educator for 34 years, Barclay’s communication skills allowed him to not only teach his students but also to inspire them to engage with sports. He coached numerous elementary school teams to championships, leaving a lasting impact on young athletes.

Barclay’s impressive journey as an official spans 54 years, and he remains one of Canada’s top officials. He has officiated at all levels, from high school meets to the Summer Olympics, always displaying his in-depth knowledge of the rule book and exceptional communication with athletes and coaches.

His contributions extended beyond the track; Barclay held numerous executive roles in organisations aimed at enhancing the sport of Track and Field. He is instrumental in the staging of the Ottawa Sports Awards Dinner, which annually honours outstanding amateur athletes in the city and he has been an ardent supporter of the Lions members in being recognized in the city’s sporting community.

In recognition of his dedication and contributions, Barclay has received several prestigious awards, including induction into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 and being selected for the Athletics Canada National Officials Committee Wall of Honour in 2021.

Barclay’s legacy as an athlete, coach, educator, and official has left an indelible mark on the world of athletics. His induction into the Athletics Ontario Hall of Fame is a testament to his lifelong commitment and outstanding achievements.