With this weekend’s results, the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club has now claimed the Ontario U20 and Open team titles 13 times each—a benchmark unmatched since the current championship structure was introduced in 2000. The two titles push the club’s all-time total to 60 Ontario team championships across all age categories.
The Lions tied London Western Track and Field Club for the overall team title in the U20 and Open categories, with both clubs finishing at 158 points. Ottawa’s edge came in the U20 division, where the Lions scored 159 points to top London Western’s 142.5 and claim the U20 crown outright.
Fittingly, the team’s championship performance was punctuated by a thrilling finale in the U20 men’s 4x400m relay. The quartet of Ayoub Shangai, Ange-Mathis Kramo, William Sanders, and Zachary Jeggo blazed to gold in 3:14.80, smashing the national club record of 3:15.28 set by the Windsor Legion in 2013.
It was the second gold of the day for Jeggo, who earlier topped the field in the U20 men’s 400m hurdles with a time of 53.19—his fourth fastest ever. Teammate Kyle London joined him on the podium, earning silver in 54.23, his third-fastest performance to date.
Jorai Oppong-Nketiah continued her build towards the Canadian Championships, adding another title to her resume with a win in the U20 women’s 200m. Her wind-aided 23.63 marked the fastest performance of her career under any conditions.
Middle-distance star Sydney Smith captured her fourth consecutive Ontario senior 800m title, running a seasonal best 2:04.69 to take gold. Teammate Brooklyn McCormick clocked 2:12.68—her second-best career mark—for eighth place.
Smith and McCormick returned to the track later in the day to help the open women’s 4x400m relay team to victory, teaming with Cora McQuinn and Alexandra Telford to win the event for the third time in four years.
Telford also earned individual hardware, taking silver in the open women’s 400m hurdles in a season-best 1:01.00. On the men’s side, André Alie-Lamarche placed fourth in the open 800m, running 1:51.75—his third-fastest clocking to date. In the U20 800m final, Safwan El Mansari added a silver medal with a time of 1:54.82.
In the throws, Connor Fraser stood atop the podium in the open men’s discus, launching a best of 49.35m to claim gold. In the U20 men’s pole vault, Eli Mordel placed fourth with a clearance of 4.10m.
Rounding out the Lions’ notable efforts was Saul Taler, who delivered a strong run in the U20 men’s 3000m, finishing fourth in a season-best 8:44.33.
With medals across disciplines and age groups, a Canadian club record, and a pair of age class team titles, the Lions once again showcased their strength and depth on the provincial stage. With the Ontario Championships now in the books, attention turns to the National Championships—set for just over three weeks’ time at home in Ottawa—where this group of Lions will look to defend their turf on the country’s biggest stage.
