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.