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WINNIPEG — A small but determined University of Ottawa squad delivered the program’s strongest national championship showing in more than a decade last weekend, capturing four medals at the U SPORTS Track and Field Championships at the University of Manitoba — the Gee-Gees’ highest total since 2014.

As at the OUA Championships, the men’s 4×400-metre relay produced the headline result. A late change to the record-setting OUA lineup saw veteran Joel Gurnsey move into the lead-off role, while James Compeau shifted to anchor after David Moulongou was ruled ineligible for failing to check in for his 300-metre heat.

The last-minute shuffle did nothing to slow the quartet.

Gurnsey delivered a composed opening leg, handing off to Safwan El Mansari in third place. El Mansari and third-leg runner William Harris battled with teams from Guelph and Manitoba to move Ottawa into contention before Compeau took the baton and delivered a decisive anchor leg. He surged into second place within 50 metres and held the position through the finish, stopping the clock at 3:15.27 — the second-fastest time in program history.

The silver medal marked the fourth national medal in school history for the men’s 4×400-metre relay at the national championships.

El Mansari Adds Individual Silver

Earlier Saturday, El Mansari had already secured a medal of his own in the men’s 600 metres. After advancing from Thursday’s heats with a personal-best performance, the second-year standout executed a disciplined race plan in the final to capture silver in 1:18.12, breaking the University of Ottawa record that had stood since 2019.

Field Events Spark Friday Medal Run

Ottawa’s success had been set in motion the previous evening through standout performances in the field events.

Thomas Sénéchal-Becker cleared a season-best 2.15 metres to earn silver in the men’s high jump. The 2022 U SPORTS champion, who had battled injuries over the past two seasons, returned to near-peak form with the second-best clearance of his career.

Moments later, Jessica Gyamfi added bronze in the women’s shot put. Her throw of 13.87 metres improved her own school record, surpassing her previous best of 13.85 m and significantly exceeding the mark that earned her bronze at the 2025 championships.

Adeleye Adds Hurdles Silver for Lions

Western University’s David Adeleye contributed another medal to the Lions haul, racing to silver in the men’s 60-metre hurdles. The Mustangs standout clocked 7.84 seconds in a tightly contested final, finishing less than a tenth of a second behind Guelph’s Keon Rude, who set a new U SPORTS record. Adeleye’s performance established a new Western University record and added a key eight points to the Mustangs’ total as they repeated as men’s champions.

Woodcock Earns Relay Silver for Guelph

University of Guelph’s Kaiya Woodcock also reached the podium, earning silver as part of the Gryphons’ women’s 4×200-metre relay after competing in the preliminary round. The performance contributed to Guelph’s women’s team championship and added another Lions presence to the medal standings.

Additional Strong Performances

Several other Lions athletes delivered notable results despite narrowly missing the podium.

University of Ottawa hurdler Leewinchell Jean advanced to the final of the men’s 60-metre hurdles, matching his seasonal best in the heats before finishing ninth overall.

Queen’s University middle-distance runner Elizabeth Vroom recorded a pair of top-eight finishes, placing eighth in both the women’s 1,000 metres (2:49.36) and 1,500 metres (4:30.94), scoring valuable points for the Gaels.

Guelph thrower Liam Davis placed ninth in the shot put and tenth in the weight throw, while Western’s Leo Wallner finished ninth in the men’s heptathlon.

WINNIPEG — A group of Ottawa Lions athletes representing six different Canadian universities will take to the national stage this week as the U SPORTS Track and Field Championships begin Thursday at the James Daly Fieldhouse at the University of Manitoba.

The three-day championship, which runs through Saturday, brings together the country’s top university athletes following conference championship performances across the Canada West, OUA, RSEQ and AUS.

Leading the Ottawa contingent is a strong group from the University of Ottawa, highlighted by the men’s 4×400-metre relay squad that captured the OUA title two weeks ago in Championship record time. James Compeau, Safwan El Mansari, William Harris and David Moulongou will look to carry that momentum onto the national stage, with Joel Gurnsey serving as the relay alternate.

Individually, El Mansari will also contest the 600 metres after a silver medal performance at the OUA Championships, while Moulongou lines up in the 300 metres. In the field events, Thomas Senechal-Becker enters the high jump competition looking to reclaim his national title from 2024, and Jessica Gyamfi will represent the Gee-Gees in the women’s shot put as she goes for her second straight U SPORTS medal. Leewinchell Jean rounds out the Gee-Gees competitors as he lines up in the 60 metre hurdles.

Several Lions athletes competing for other programs will also be in the hunt for national honours.

At the University of Guelph, thrower Liam Davis will compete in both the shot put and weight throw following another consistent season in the circle. Teammates Nicolas Belan is expected to run for the Gryphons’ 4×800-metre relay squad, while Kaiya Woodcock will be part of the Guelph women’s 4×200-metre relay pool.

For Queen’s University, middle-distance runner Elizabeth Vroom will contest both the 1000 metres and 1500 metres. Vroom enters the national championships following another strong OUA campaign that saw her capture silver over 1500 metres. She will look to carry that momentum into two of the meet’s most competitive distance events.

The Western Mustangs will feature multiple Lions athletes as well. David Adeleye enters the men’s 60-metre hurdles as a medal favourite following his seasonal best at the OUA championships, while Leo Wallner will contest the heptathlon in one of the meet’s most demanding events. Cora McQuinn will contribute on both the Mustangs’ 4×200-metre and 4×400-metre relay teams.

For the University of Toronto, Paulina Procyk qualified in the 60-metre hurdles and is also part of the Varsity Blues’ 4×200-metre relay squad.

Meanwhile, a strong Lions presence will be seen in the McGill program. William Sanders and Luca Nicoletti will both compete in the men’s 300 metres after standout performances at the RSEQ championships. The pair will also combine with teammate Jay Yetman on McGill’s 4×200-metre relay, while Sanders and Nicoletti will also feature on the Redbirds’ 4×400-metre relay squad.

With national medals and All-Canadian honours on the line, the weekend promises to be full of memorable moments. Be sure to catch all the action live on CBC Sports YouTube Channel.

Live results are available on Athletic.net