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.