(Ottawa, Canada---02 August 2025) Zachary Jeggo competes on Day 4 of the Canadian Track and Field Championships presented by Bell at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Copyright 2025 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Jeggo Breaks Canadian U20 Record, Wins GNAC Title in Spokane

by linkinbioUniversity

Zachary Jeggo delivered a championship performance for the ages Tuesday night at The Podium in Spokane, WA.

The Ottawa Lions standout captured the 400 metres title at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, clocking a seasonal-best 46.72 seconds to win by nearly half a second in a loaded final.

The time shattered the previous meet record of 47.61 set in 2017 by Simon Fraser’s Vladislav Tsygankov — a mark that had stood for eight years. In fact, Jeggo was one of three athletes in the race to dip under the former standard.

However, the bigger milestone came at the national level.

Pending ratification, the performance establishes a new Canadian U20 indoor record, eclipsing the previous mark of 47.02 set in 2013 by World Championship finalist Brandon McBride. It also makes Jeggo the first Ottawa Lions athlete in club history to break 47 seconds indoors over 400 metres.

For Jeggo, the record had quietly become a target in recent weeks.

“It’s pretty unreal,” he said via text message on Wednesday. “I wasn’t really aware of the record til a couple weeks ago after I saw a post with my name at second all time. So I knew I had to try and beat it. Really happy to get that weight off my shoulders too.”

The mark currently ranks fifth in NCAA Division II this season and places the first-year criminology student eighth in the world among U20 athletes indoors.

Male Performance of the Meet

Jeggo’s effort did not go unnoticed. He was awarded Male Performance of the Meet honours following the championship.

Competing in his first GNAC final as a freshman, he controlled the race from the gun and closed decisively to secure his first conference title.

“Feels awesome,” said the Louis-Riel graduate of winning as a freshman. “Glad to get the job done early and set the tone for the rest of the season. I’m gonna try and keep the momentum going for nationals.”

Relay Gold and a Meet Record

He was not finished.

The championship concluded with Jeggo anchoring Simon Fraser’s 4×400-metre relay to conference gold, splitting a blistering 46.4 on the final leg as the Red Leafs stormed to a meet-record 3:11.70.

It was a fitting end to a dominant championship from the freshman and reinforced his ability to deliver on demand in a championship setting.

Adjusting to University Competition

Now in his first year studying criminology, Jeggo says the biggest adjustment to NCAA life has come away from the track.

“I’d say the biggest challenge is balancing your schedule with training, school and life in general. But other than that, university life has been nothing but great. I have great friends out here, I have a wonderful team that I’m thankful to be a part of as well.”

Nationals in Sight

With his national ranking comfortably inside the qualification range, Jeggo now turns his focus toward the NCAA Division II Championships.

“I just want to enjoy the moment and have fun. Obviously I’m going there to win but there will be some hard competition which will help and push me. I also just want to represent the only Canadian NCAA school to the best of my ability.”

Eyes on the International Stage

Beyond the collegiate season, the 18-year-old has his sights set on international competition this summer.

“I plan to keep working hard with all my coaches and teammates in order to get better,” Jeggo wrote. “I wish to represent Team Canada this year whether it be at Commonwealth or U20 worlds, but the road to either of those events is going to be difficult with a strong Canadian field also shooting for those. As always I’ll try my best and work as hard as possible.”

If his championship performance in Spokane is any indication, Jeggo has firmly placed himself in that national conversation –  and rewritten a piece of Canadian junior sprint history in the process.

(Canton, USA---14 February 2026) Wendy Alexis sets a Masters 70-74 World Record of 9.11s in the 60m.Ottawa Lions Mini Meet at St Lawrence University. Photograph Copyright 2026 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

World Masters Record Headlines Lions Winter Mini Meet as Alexis Leads Standout Weekend

by linkinbioMastersUniversity

A world masters record from Wendy Alexis highlighted a wave of standout performances by Ottawa Lions athletes across multiple meets this past weekend, led by a historic sprint in the W70 60 metres at the Ottawa Lions Winter Mini Meet hosted at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY.

Alexis delivered the headline performance of the meet in the preliminary round of the 60 metres, clocking 9.11 seconds to break the World Masters Athletics W70 record of 9.17 set last February by fellow Canadian Karla del Grande. The mark lowers the global standard by six hundredths of a second and adds another milestone to Alexis’ long list of international masters achievements.

In addition to the record-setting performance, Lions athletes combined to produce 26 new personal bests at the Mini Meet across sprints, middle distance and field events.

Among the top open performances in Canton, Ange-Mathis Kramo continued to show strong early-season form in the men’s sprints. The Paul-Desmarais High School senior won the 60 metres in 6.96 seconds, his third-fastest career performance at the distance, and doubled back to dominate the 300 metres – winning in an indoor best of 34.40 seconds. University of Ottawa sprinter William Harris placed second in the 300 metres in 35.67.

Primarily known for his success in the sprints, James Compeau stepped up in distance and delivered a breakthrough effort in the 600 metres, winning in a lifetime best 1:21.00. Compeau, a second-year Finance student at the Telfer School of Management and a member of the Gee-Gees’ record-setting 4×400-metre relay earlier this season alongside Harris, ran largely unchallenged – crossing the line more than six seconds ahead of the field. His performance places him 12th on the University of Ottawa’s all-time list.

While Lions athletes were competing in Canton, several others posted nationally significant marks in Boston.

Queen’s University fourth-year runner Elizabeth Vroom recorded two lifetime bests in as many days across separate meets. She opened her weekend at the Harvard Crimson Open with a school record 2:45.22 in the 1000 metres, a performance that moves her to third on the club’s all-time list. Vroom followed with a 4:43.44 mile at the BU Valentine Invitational, setting a new club U23 record and delivering the fastest performance by a Lion at the distance since Tracy Robertson ran 4:39.10 to win the NCAA Indoor title in 2001. Heading into next weekend’s OUA Championships, Vroom now ranks seventh nationally in U SPORTS in the 1000 metres and sixth in the 1500 metres based on converted performances.

Also in Boston, Lauren Gale led the women’s 400-metre field with a seasonal best 52.56, winning her heat by nearly two and a half seconds. She later returned to place fourth in the 60-metre final in 7.66 seconds after posting the fastest qualifying time in the preliminary round.

Back in Ontario, throws specialist Liam Davis delivered his strongest meet since November at the University of Guelph Last Chance competition. The second-year Guelph student won the weight throw with a mark of 18.04 metres and added a fourth-place finish in the shot put at 15.10 metres, rounding out a productive weekend for Lions athletes across three meets.

(Ottawa, Canada---19 June 2024) Liz Maguire 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

Maguire Sets Canadian Record as Lions Deliver Record-Breaking Weekend

by ClubInternationallinkinbioMastersUniversity

While the spotlight shone brightly on Boston last weekend, Ottawa Lions athletes were also turning heads across North America and France. The weekend haul included a Canadian masters record, a world-class 800-metre performance, and several marks that reshaped the club’s all-time rankings.

In Toronto, Liz Maguire delivered a historic performance at the AO Winter Mini Meet, breaking the Canadian W55 indoor record in the 5000 metres. Maguire, who placed second in the all-comers race, crossed the line in 19:40.57, lowering the previous national record set in 2024 by nearly 100 seconds. The mark is Maguire’s third Canadian masters record, adding to her outdoor W55 standards in the 1500 metres and the mile.

Across the Atlantic, middle-distance standout Maëliss Trapeau placed fourth in the women’s 800 metres at the Meeting Miramas Métropole in France. The defending Canadian champion clocked 2:02.41, the second-fastest indoor performance of her career. Trapeau is aiming to secure a place at this year’s World Indoor Championships in Poland this March. She currently sits 25th in the Road to Kujawy Pomorze rankings, with the top 30 athletes earning selection.

In the United States, Maddie Seaby delivered a breakthrough run at home in the women’s 3000 metres at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational in Louisville, stopping the clock at 9:35.43. The performance moves Seaby to seventh on the club’s U23 all-time list and improves on her previous personal best of 9:36.96 set last February. She also added a mile personal best of 4:58.91 the following day.

At the PSU National Open in Pennsylvania, several Lions posted notable results. Nicolas Belan (University of Guelph) turned in one of the busiest – and most productive – weekends of any Lion, recording a pair of U23 all-time top-10 performances. He ran 4:06.17 in the mile and followed with a 2:26.30 clocking over 1000 metres. Those marks place him 10th on the club’s U23 mile list and sixth in the 1000 metres. His mile performance also moves him to eighth in the current U SPORTS rankings, strengthening his championship positioning.

Combined events athlete Leo Wallner (Western University) delivered the strongest heptathlon of his career, scoring 4,831 points to finish fifth overall at the Penn State meet. The score moves him to seventh on the club’s all-time list and currently ranks ninth in the country. Wallner equalled his high jump personal best at 1.90 metres and set a lifetime best of 12.38 metres in the shot put as part of a strong seven-event series.

Paulina Procyk (University of Toronto)matched her personal best of 8.63 seconds in the women’s 60-metre hurdles on her way to a fifth-place finish. It was a busy schedule for the University of Toronto graduate student, who also competed in the flat 60 metres before racing three rounds of hurdles. Procyk currently ranks 13th nationally, just one position shy of the U SPORTS automatic qualifying standard.

At La Classique Héloise in Montreal, U18 vaulter Anabelle Muir rebounded from a disappointing outing the previous weekend to clear 3.45 metres. The mark moves her to third on the club’s U18 all-time list and places her 10th overall in club history across all age categories — a significant milestone for the developing vaulter. Muir currently ranks second nationally in her age group.

GG_mens_4x4

Gee-Gees relay breaks 13-year record as Lions athletes deliver standout weekend in Boston

by linkinbioUniversity

The Boston University Track and Tennis Center has earned a reputation as one of North America’s fastest indoor tracks, particularly for distance runners chasing quick times on its responsive wooden subsurface. This weekend, it also proved fertile ground for a series of breakthrough sprint and field performances from Lions athletes.

Headlining the performance was the University of Ottawa men’s 4×400-metre relay team, which broke a 13-year school record at the Terrier Classic.

The quartet of James Compeau, Safwan El Mansari, William Harris and David Moulongou finished third overall and first in their heat in 3 minutes 13.67 seconds, eclipsing the previous program record of 3:15.36 set in 2013. The time briefly stood atop the U SPORTS national rankings before being surpassed later in the weekend by the University of Guelph.

Compeau opened the relay with a 48.77 split to establish an early lead. El Mansari and Harris maintained the advantage through the middle legs before Moulongou, a FISU games finalist with Canada’s relay squad last summer, anchored in 47.33 to secure the record performance.

The Gee-Gees will look to take top spot back from the Gryphons later this month at the OUA Championships at York University and the U SPORTS Championships next month in Winnipeg. 

Compeau and Moulongou also delivered strong individual results. Moulongou clocked 47.58 for 400m to move to third on the Gee-Gees’ all-time list, less than half a second off the school record. Compeau moved up the list as well, dropping a 48.39 effort for sixth best among the Gee-Gees best. El Mansari added a breakthrough of his own in the 800 metres, placing 12th overall in 1:51.87 to become the second-fastest performer in program history.

Competing for Simon Fraser University, Zachary Jeggo posted an indoor personal best of 47.15 in the men’s 400 to finish fourth. The performance established a new Great Northwest Athletic Conference record, and Jeggo was later named GNAC Male Track Athlete of the Week for the second time this season. He currently ranks fifth nationally in NCAA Division II in the 400 metres.

Also at Boston University, Ange-Mathis Kramo produced one of the top sprint performances of the weekend with a bronze-medal finish in the 200 metres. The Paul-Desmarais senior ran a personal best 21.34 seconds, improving by 0.07 and recording the third-fastest Canadian U20 indoor time in the event, trailing only Tooni Ogunyeye and national record holder William Floyd.

On the women’s side, Lauren Gale opened her season with a second-place finish in the 400 metres in 52.74 to put her in a qualifying position for March’s World Indoor Championships in Poland. Gale also added an eighth-place showing in the 60 metres in 7.74. Jorai Oppong-Nketiah finished fifth in the 60-metre final in 7.64.

Carleton’s Rose Basu set a lifetime best of 24.92 in the 200 metres, finishing ninth and breaking the Ravens’ school record of 25.32 that had stood since 2016. Teammate Michaella Appriah-Kubi also ran a personal best 25.55 to move to third on the program’s all-time list.

In the field events, Jessica Gyamfi recorded a season’s best throw of 13.33 metres to place fifth in the shot put, a mark that ranks fourth in U SPORTS this season.

Athletes also competed at the Harvard Invitational, held nearby in Cambridge.

University of Ottawa high jumper Thomas Senechal-Becker cleared a season’s best 2.08 metres to finish second and confirm his place at the upcoming U SPORTS Championships. The 2024 national champion returned this season after missing last year due to injury.

Teammate Leewinchell Jean placed third in the 60-metre hurdles in 8.14 seconds, a season best that moves him to fourth on the Gee-Gees’ all-time list and just shy of his personal record.

Basu added another personal best at Harvard, running 7.61 in the women’s 60 metres to finish seventh in the final. The time moves her into a tie for 10th on the Ottawa Lions’ all-time list while maintaining her No. 2 position in Carleton program history.

In the women’s 500 metres, Lions athletes claimed four of the top seven places. First-year Lion Amy Stieh won in 1:14.79, moving to seventh on the club’s all-time list. Ellie McGregor placed second in 1:16.01, rising to No. 2 on the U18 rankings. Alexandra Telford finished fourth in 1:18.84, while Carleton’s Aria MacDonald placed seventh in 1:20.24 to set a new Ravens school record.

Full results can be found on our website.

Updated Club and University rankings can be found at the following links:
Lions Rankings
uOttawa Rankings
Carleton Rankings

(Ottawa, Canada---02 August 2025) Zachary Jeggo competes on Day 4 of the Canadian Track and Field Championships presented by Bell at the Terry Fox Athletic Facility. Copyright 2025 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Jeggo Impresses in Collegiate Debut as Lions Shine Across NCAA Meets

by linkinbioUniversity

The last time Zachary Jeggo competed in a high-stakes race, he was celebrating gold for Ontario as a member of the 4×400-metre relay team at last August’s Canada Summer Games. This past Saturday, he returned to competition, and once again found himself at the top of the podium.

Competing in his first meet for the Simon Fraser Red Leafs, Jeggo captured victory in the men’s 400 metres at the UW Preview, hosted at the University of Washington’s 307-metre Dempsey Fieldhouse. The first-year student-athlete crossed the line in 47.29 seconds, the fastest season opener of his career, winning decisively over Stanford’s Zachary Ryan (47.84).

Jeggo’s time stands as the second-fastest indoor 400 metres in Great Northwest Athletic Conference history, just 0.07 seconds shy of the conference record, and currently ranks him third nationally in NCAA Division II. For his efforts, he was named GNAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week. 

SFU head coach Britt Townsend praised the freshman’s composure and competitive edge, calling Jeggo “one of the most exciting sprinters we have ever had at SFU” and noting that his debut confirmed he is already among the NCAA’s elite.

Closer to home, Elizabeth Vroom opened her indoor season in winning fashion at the Utica Winter Opener, taking top spot in the women’s 3,000 metres. Vroom clocked a personal best 9:55.52, sharing pacing duties early with former Lion and fellow Gael Olivia Baggley before pulling away decisively on the final lap to win by five seconds. The pair finished nearly a full lap ahead of the rest of the field.

At the Don Wright Team Challenge, Liam Davis delivered a dominant performance in the weight throw, winning by more than a metre and a half with a best mark of 17.90 metres. Davis later added a fourth-place finish in the shot put with a throw of 14.24 metres. 

Additional strong performances came on the track, where McMaster’s Derek Strachan rounded out the podium in the men’s 3,000 metres, posting a personal best 8:42.12. Nicolas Belan placed fourth in the men’s 1,000 metres in a Guelph sweep, finishing in 2:30.17, while Cora McQuin (Western) was fourth in the women’s 300 metres with a seasonal best of 40.80.

Lions athletes return to action this Friday at the McGill Team Challenge in Montreal.

(Canton, United States---05 December 2025) Sharelle Samuel at the Saints Holiday Relays held in Newell Field House on the campus of St. Lawrence University. Copyright 2025 Miles Ryan / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Samuel and Moulongou Rewrite Record Book as Lions Shine at Holiday Relays

by ClublinkinbioUniversity

Kicking off the weekend with 17 victores, 35 personal bests, and four new meet records is what many would call a great Friday night. Such was the case for the Lions family, who opened the the indoor season in full force at last week’s Saints Holiday Relays in Canton, NY, inside St. Lawrence University’s Newell Field House.

Following a two-year hiatus from the sport, Sharelle Samuel made her return to the track on Friday and did so in record breaking fashion. The former Canadian U20 international posted the top time in both the 600 and 300m events – setting a new meet record in the latter. Samuel’s winning time of 41.52 seconds over the lap and half race bettered the previous mark of 41.70 set by fellow Lion Doyin Ogunremi in 2022.

The meet’s final event brought about another meet record for the Harvard University graduate as she teamed up with Alexandra Telford, Ellie McGregor, and Sophia McIntyre for a third victory – this time in the 4x400m relay. The quartet’s time of 4:01.72 was sealed by Samuel’s anchor leg of 57.86 as they trimmed more than four seconds off the previous meet record set by the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees in 2019. 

Another 300m meet record fell Friday night as both David Moulongou (Gee-Gees) and Ange-Mathis Kramo dipped under the old meet standard of 35.30 seconds. After some anxious waiting the scoreboard confirmed Moulongou had outdipped the younger Kramo by the narrowest of margins as he took the gold and the record in 35.21 seconds. 

Like Samuel, Moulongou added to his record haul as part of the 4x400m relay. With last year’s OUA silver medal winning team returning intact, the Gee-Gees let it be known they will be looking for gold when February’s Championship comes around as they put forward the fastest time in school history for the month of December – winning in a time of 3:21.44 seconds on the flat 200m surface. Moulongou finished with a flash, anchoring the team in a blazing 48.52 seconds.

On the sprint straight Carleton’s Rose Basu and the University of Ottawa’s Joel Gurnsey were the class of their respective fields. Both set the track ablaze with new lifetime bests and gold medal runs. Basu’s preliminary run of 7.67 seconds shaved two hundredths off her personal best and moved her closer to Amelia Brohman’s school record of 7.54 that has stood since 2017. The third year Communications and Religion student equalled her previous best of 7.69 in the final to win by more than 0.3 seconds.
Gurnsey did things in the reverse order, winning his heat in 7.07 – just a hundredth off his lifetime best before breaking the magical seven second barrier in the final with his 6.99 second clocking to comfortably win by two tenths over teammate Jesse Costanzo. The third year finance student now ranks ninth all-time in school history over 60m.

Seaby Returns with a Statement in Boston

After an illness forced her withdrawal from last week’s Canadian Cross Country Championships, Maddie Seaby returned in style at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. The Louisville junior sped her way to a 5000m personal best of 16:15.65, shaving nearly seven seconds off her previous best to extend her Club U23 record and solidify her hold on fourth all-time in Lions history.

Wallner Vaults Back into Combined-Events

At Saginaw Valley State University, Leo Wallner completed his first heptathlon in two seasons following injuries. The Western Mustang set personal bests in the 60m hurdles (8.55), shot put (11.96m) enroute to an overall heptathlon score of 4586, pushing him into 10th place on the Club’s all-time rankings.

Brennan’s Hold on Denison 300m Record Fleating

In Ohio, Emily Brennan – a senior at Denison University – briefly held the school record in the 300m after running a personal best 41.75, only to be surpassed moments later by her teammate Stevie Combs (41.15).

Procyk Back in Blue with Near-PB Performances

At the Greg Page Relays in Ithaca, N.Y., Paulina Procyk made a strong statement returning to U SPORTS competition with the University of Toronto. She clocked 7.76 for sixth in the 60m final — just 0.03 off her PB — after an 8.66 opener in the 60m hurdles heats (also 0.03 shy of her lifetime best). Procyk capped her day with 8.73 for fifth in the hurdles final.

For updated Club rankings, please visit our stats page. Full results and photos from St. Lawrence can be found on our website.

(Ottawa, Canada---04 November 2024) Novice Boys generic running up "The Hill" at Mooney's Bay at the 2024 OFSAA Cross Country Championships. Photograph Copyright 2024 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Lions Impress with Strong Showings at OFSAA Cross Country Championships

by High SchoollinkinbioUniversity

Ottawa Lions athletes capped off an outstanding cross country season with a series of strong performances at the OFSAA Cross Country Championships held Saturday at Heart Lake Conservation Area in Brampton. With three dozen Lions athletes lining up across the seven divisions, several cracked the top 20 in deep provincial fields.

Leading the way on the senior side was Charlie Mortimer of Hillcrest, who battled through the challenging 6-kilometre course to finish fifth in the Senior Boys race with a time of 19:12.29. The result marked a significant improvement from his 21st-place showing last year and capped a stellar high school season that also included a city title.

Led by Kyra Lauter, the Lions had two athletes finish among the top 20 in the Senior Girls race. The Franco-Ouest student placed 15th—her highest-ever OFSAA cross country finish—in 22:58.26, while Colonel By’s Laila Lebel followed close behind in 19th at 23:13.57.

A strong Lions contingent made its presence felt in the Junior Girls race, with three athletes finishing inside the top 30. Reve McInnes (Glebe) led the charge with a 19th-place finish in 19:52.80. Along with teammate Leonie Ravard (68th), Glebe finished fourth overall in the team standings. A similar one-two Lions punch helped Nepean High School to a fifth-place finish, just six points behind Glebe. The Knights were led by Charlie Fee’s 20th-place finish in 19:56.37 and Charlotte Eccles’s 45th-place result, while John McCrae’s Alexandra Harris, the defending Novice Girls bronze medalist, was 28th in 20:11.82. 

The EOSSA Champion Oscar Lorrain rose to the occasion again in the Junior Boys race, producing the top finish for the Lions. The L’Escale student narrowly missed the top 10, clocking 17:00.62 for 11th. St. Francis Xavier’s Brody Charbot was 76th overall, while Glengarry’s Rowan Blaine placed 83rd.

In the Novice Girls race, Roan Gerth (Glebe) continued her strong rookie campaign with a 13th-place finish in 16:11.57. The NCSSAA Champion also led Glebe to a fifth-place finish in the team standings, just 45 points shy of the podium. 

Jaiden Taft had the race of his season in the Novice Boys event. The AY Jackson student cracked the top 10, finishing ninth in 14:23.13, just a week after placing fourth at the NCSSAA Championships. Colonel By’s Kai Lebel followed in 37th, helping the Cougars to an eighth-place team finish with 395 points, narrowly missing sixth by four points.

Competing in the Para division, Jacob Gauthier (Jules-Léger) clocked 22:41.69 to finish 36th overall, ranking as the top visually impaired athlete in the province.

With the high school season now complete, these Lions athletes will turn their attention towards the Athletics Ontario Championships in two weeks’ time and for the older athletes, eyes will also be on the Canadian Championships later this month in London.

Lions South of the Border

A day before OFSAA kicked off, Maddie Seaby was in action Friday at the Atlantic Coast Conference Cross Country Championships in Louisville, Kentucky. The Louisville junior placed 84th overall for the host Cardinals in 21:01.3on the 6km course. Racing together as a tightly packed unit, the Cardinals finished 11th in the team standings with 265 points, recording a spread of only 33 seconds between their top five scorers—the third-best spread in the 18-team field. Next up for Seaby will be the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships in Charlottesville, Va., on November 14, where athletes will vie for berths at the NCAA Championships.

On the roads, Joshua Cassidy continued his comeback season with an eighth-place finish in the men’s wheelchair division of the New York City Marathon on Sunday morning. The veteran racer crossed the line in 1:43:38, capping a year that’s seen him balance recovery from a shoulder injury with a steady return to form.

Full Lions Results from OFSAA

Senior Girls (6km)

15. Kyra Lauter (Franco-Ouest ESC) – 22:58.26
19. Laila Lebel (Colonel By SS) – 23:13.57
62. Edie Petrescu-Comnene (Nepean HS) – 24:34.19
84. Emily Munro (Hillcrest HS) – 25:02.76
259. Sophie Edwards (Colonel By SS) – 30:50.04

Senior Boys (6km)

5. Charlie Mortimer (Hillcrest HS) – 19:12.29
86. Jackson McKercher (John McCrae SS) – 21:11.53
91. Aidan Snow (ÉSC Paul-Desmarais) – 21:15.65
104. Olivier Young (Louis-Riel ESP) – 21:28.73
162. Max Gerundin (Bishop Smith CHS) – 22:15.72
246. Matisse Joly (Louis-Riel ESP) – 24:27.04
DNF. Mikel Fortier (Louis-Riel ESP)

Junior Girls (5km)

19. Reve McInnes (Glebe CI) – 19:52.80
20. Charlie Fee (Nepean HS) – 19:56.37
28. Alexandra Harris (John McCrae SS) – 20:11.82
45. Charlotte Eccles (Nepean HS) – 20:41.68
53. Kira Coldrey (Colonel By SS) – 20:52.32
68. Leonie Ravard (Glebe CI) – 21:09.31
127. Anabelle Muir (Glebe CI) – 22:32.21
164. Isla Kittmer (MacKenzie CS) – 23:18.13
203. Helena Winkel (Nepean HS) – 24:27.37

Junior Boys (5km)

11. Oscar Lorrain (ÉSC l’Escale) – 17:00.62
76. Brody Charbot (St. Francis Xavier HS) – 18:29.06
83. Rowan Blaine (Glengarry DHS) – 18:35.44

Novice Girls (4km)

13. Roan Gerth (Glebe CI) – 16:11.57
45. Keira Ganton (Maplewood) – 17:11.04
53. Saoirse Hoogenraad (Longfields-Davidson Heights SS) – 17:17.38
72. Priya Bilcock (Nepean HS) – 17:37.70
111. Anna Hennigar (Nepean HS) – 18:13.12

Novice Boys (4km)

9. Jaiden Taft (AY Jackson SS) – 14:23.13
37. Kai Lebel (Colonel By SS) – 14:52.81
103. Patrick Badgley (Sir Wilfrid Laurier SS) – 15:41.01

Para 4km

36. Jacob Gauthier (Jules-Léger CC) – 22:41.69

(Canton, United States---21 September 2024) Zach Sikka of Ottawa University [JR] competing 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

Cross-Country Season Kicks Off South of the Border

by linkinbioUniversity

Crisp September air and the rolling hills of St. Lawrence University set the stage Saturday for the 33rd Ronald C. Hoffmann Invitational, marking the official start of the collegiate cross-country season. With teams from across the Northeast and Canada toeing the line, the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, and Ottawa Lions athletes all opened their fall campaigns with promising efforts on the Canton, New York campus course.

The University of Ottawa men placed seventh in the team standings, collecting 204 points in a field of 11. Fourth-year computer science student Zachary Sikka led the way, clocking 26:50.2 over the 8km route for 35th overall — an improvement of nearly two minutes and 16 places on his showing at the same meet last year. Sophomore Max Wilson followed close behind in 46th (27:06.5), with rookie Matteo Padoin-Castillo (74th), Russell Niedre (108th), and Theo Dai (128th) rounding out the scoring five.

Carleton was represented on the men’s side by freshman Duncan Gray, who crossed the line 56th in 27:58.5, while Lions masters runner Sam Shi placed 72nd in 28:39.8. Running in Queen’s colours, Saul Taler impressed in his Gaels debut, finishing 12th in 25:59.8. His performance added depth to the powerhouse Queen’s squad, which cruised to the team title with 30 points, 21 clear of second-place Middlebury.

On the women’s side, the Gee-Gees mirrored their male counterparts with a seventh-place finish, scoring 189 points. Freshman Ciara Villeneuve paced the group with a 51st-place finish in 25:10.8 over 6km, followed closely by fellow rookie Daphnee Houde in 67th. Senior Elliot Tyman (68th), Molly Taylor (76th), and Taylor Brown (82nd) completed the scoring order. Carleton’s top woman was first-year runner Chloe Ramadan, who finished just behind Villeneuve in 52nd with a time of 25:13.9.

Queen’s also flexed its depth in the women’s race, led by Elizabeth Vroom’s fourth-place effort in 22:15.0. Newcomer Tessa Knight added a 21st-place finish in her Gaels debut, helping Queen’s to silver medal team showing.

Meanwhile, in London, Ont., several Lions tested themselves at the Vigars & Salter Western Invitational. UNB rookie Bridget Jeffrey made an immediate impact, finishing 16th overall in the women’s 8km with a time of 30:35. Guelph’s Jocelyn Giannotti, coming off a standout track season, followed in 18th (30:42), while fellow Gryphon Nicolas Belan ran 27:02 for 43rd in the men’s race. McMaster’s Derek Stachan placed 53rd in 27:25.

The local cross country season continues this weekend with the Capital XC Challenge at Mooney’s Bay Park. The two-day event begins Friday with the Gryphon XC High School Open and concludes Saturday with the Eastern Elementary School Championship and the Open/University races.

Full details are available at ottawalions.com/capital-cross-country-challenge.

(Windsor, Canada---02 June 2024) Lauren Gale races to win the 400m in meet record time at the 2024 Johnny Loaring Classic held at the University of Windsor. The competition is part of the Athletics Canada National Track and Field Tour and the World Athletics Continental Tour. Photograph Copyright 2024 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images. If posting to social media please tag @mundosportimages

Lions Roar in Boston: 17 Medals and 27 Personal Bests

by ClublinkinbioUniversity

What a weekend in Boston it was for the Ottawa Lions family. Competing against elite NCAA fields at Boston College, Boston University, and Harvard on Friday and Saturday, the Pride rose to the occasion, amassing an impressive 17-medal haul, including eight golds. Over the two days of competition, athletes achieved an incredible 27 personal bests.

Lauren Gale stole the show on the track, securing victories in all three of her events and reaffirming her status as one of Canada’s top sprinters. Her 400-metre performance was the highlight of the weekend—at the Boston University Scarlet and White Invitational on Saturday, the two-time Olympian dominated the field, stopping the clock in 51.79 seconds. The time currently ranks 12th in the world this year.

Gale also showcased her range the day before at Boston College’s Showdown at the Heights, sprinting to gold in the 200m in 23.39 seconds—the second-fastest time by a Canadian this season and the fourth-fastest of her career. She capped off her triple-gold weekend with a 7.50-second victory in the 60m, finishing just 0.04 seconds off her personal best.

Stephan Balson made a statement of his own, delivering personal bests in all three of his events while climbing the Ottawa Lions’ U20 all-time rankings. The Saint Kitts and Nevis international shined in the 400 metres, setting a lifetime best of 47.78 seconds. His time now ranks 16th in the world this year among U20 athletes and fifth on the Club’s U20 all-time list.

Competing at Boston College the day before, Balson’s form was equally impressive. He blazed to 6.83 seconds in the 60m, making him the third-fastest U20 athlete in Club history. In the 200m, he carried that momentum into a 21.64-second finish, securing ninth place on the all-time list. With each race, Balson continues to prove he has the speed, range, and potential to compete at the highest levels.

Stephan Balson wasn’t the only Ottawa Lion to shine in the 400m this weekend. He was one of seven athletes to break the 50-second barrier, a testament to the club’s strength in the event. Joining him with new lifetime bests were Ange-Mathis Kramo (49.24), James Compeau (49.29), and Safwan El Mansari (49.44). This success carried over to the University of Ottawa’s 4x400m squad, as Joel Gurnsey, El Mansari, William Harris, and David Moulongou combined for a time of 3:16.42—the third-fastest in Gee-Gees history and the school’s fastest since 2013.

Elizabeth Vroom and Jessica Gyamfi also etched their names into the Ottawa Lions record books. Vroom, competing for Queen’s University, claimed gold in the mile at the Showdown at the Heights, clocking 4:49.26, a time that now ranks seventh-fastest in Club history. Meanwhile, Gyamfi continued her dominance in the shot put, winning the event with a personal-best throw of 13.85 metres—breaking her own University of Ottawa school record set just a week earlier. The mark also moves her up to eighth on the Club’s all-time list.

Kyle Waldrum and Liam Davis left their mark at the Windsor Team Challenge, delivering standout performances that reshaped the Ottawa Lions’ all-time rankings. Waldrum, a freshman at the University of Guelph, put together three lifetime bests en route to a heptathlon total of 4,544 points, a score that now ranks ninth in Club history. His Gryphons teammate Liam Davis also had a career-best showing in the shot put, launching a throw of 15.23 metres—good for 10th all-time in Club history and ninth nationally on the U SPORTS qualifying list. Davis wrapped up his weekend with a silver medal in the weight throw, reaching 16.20 metres, just a week after securing his automatic U SPORTS qualifying mark in the event.

With momentum on their side, the Ottawa Lions and their varsity programs now turn their focus to the final stretch of the indoor season. This weekend, they’ll have the opportunity to build on their success as they host the Ravens Last Chance Meet at the Louis-Riel Dome. Set for Friday evening and Saturday, the meet will serve as a key tune-up ahead of upcoming conference and national championships, providing athletes with one last chance to sharpen their performances and chase qualifying standards.

Full results from last weekend are available on our results page.
Updated Club Rankings are available at https://milesrowat.shinyapps.io/ottl_rankings/

SB20240721AthOnt735_web

Records Fall as Lions Shine Across North America

by linkinbioUniversity

Lions athletes enjoyed a historic weekend, achieving numerous outstanding performances on both sides of the border. From Massachusetts to Montreal, and even at home in Ottawa, records fell and personal bests were shattered.

At the Harvard Invitational in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Sydney Smith sprinted to an impressive 1:13.16 finish in the 500m race. She crossed the line just a hair’s breadth behind former three-time All-American Bianca Stubler. Smith’s time is the second fastest in club history, trailing only Club record holder Esther Akinsulie.

Liam Davis made a splash at the York Open. Competing in only his fourth-ever weight throw competition, the University of Guelph rookie launched the 35 pound ball an impressive 17.64 metres. This remarkable throw not only secured the third-best mark in club history but also surpassed the USports standard of 17.05 metres, positioning him as a serious national contender.

Meanwhile, in Montreal, at the Ontario vs Quebec U16 Duel Meet at Complexe Sportif Claude Robillard, Maxime Cazabon was a double-winner. He dominated the competition with victories in both the high jump (1.88m) and the 60m sprint (7.32s) moving to second on the Club’s U16 all-time list in both events. Cazabon’s high jump performance was just nine centimetres shy of Olympian Brian Marshall’s club U16 record, while his lightning-fast 60m sprint moved him into second place on the club’s all-time list, surpassing even two-time Olympian Oluwasegun Makinde.

The record-setting spree continued at the Louis-Riel Dome in Ottawa, where the Lions hosted their first-ever Field Events and Relays Meet. Jessica Gyamfi etched her name in the University of Ottawa record books, setting two new marks. She first broke the weight throw record with a 15.98 metres effort, edging past Ty Coulter’s 2018 mark. Gyamfi then shattered the shot put record with a throw of 13.22 metres, surpassing Christina Hertner’s 2018 distance.

Carleton University’s Brianna Asiamah also rewrote her school’s shot put record for the third time. Her Sunday throw landed at 13.36 metres, adding five centimetres to her previous best.

The outstanding performances of both Asiamah and Gyamfi earned them automatic berths to the USports Championships, capping off a truly historic weekend for the Lions.

The athletes will be back in action this weekend, with the Lions travelling to Boston for a series of competitions at Boston College, Harvard, and Boston University.