A total of five Ottawa Lions athletes have been nominated through Athletics Ontario’s Quest for Gold program, which supports athletes competing in the Train to Compete and Train to Win stages of the high-performance pathway. Designed to help athletes pursue excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition, the program aims to strengthen Ontario’s presence on the national stage while contributing to Canada’s long-term international success.
Middle-distance standout Sydney Smith has been nominated for her third consecutive Full Card, which would provide $6,000 in provincial support under the program. The 28-year-old continued her dominance at the provincial level in 2025, capturing her fourth straight Ontario Senior 800-metre title. Smith carried that momentum onto the national stage, recording her strongest Canadian Championship performance to date with a fifth-place finish in the final.
Also nominated for Full Card support is André Alie-Lamarche, who has been put forward through a medical exemption following a season highlighted by a bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the Ontario Senior Championships. Despite managing setbacks, Alie-Lamarche demonstrated his continued competitiveness by running a seasonal best of 3:45.69 indoors, reinforcing his status as one of Ontario’s leading middle-distance athletes. His nomination reflects both past performance and confidence in his return to peak form.
In addition, the Lions also have three athletes nominated for Half Cards for 2026. Sprint star Jorai Oppong-Nketiah has been nominated for funding for the second year in a row after successfully defending her Canadian U20 title in the 100 metres and adding gold in the 200 metres. She closed the year ranked 13th in the world among U18 athletes, further underscoring her rapid rise on the international stage.
Continuing the youth movement, Zachary Jeggo has been nominated for a Half Card following another step forward in his development in the 400 metres in 2025. Jeggo captured silver at the Canadian U20 Championships, claimed the Ontario U20 title, and lowered his personal best to 46.62 seconds, placing him firmly among Canada’s top emerging quarter-milers. His nomination reflects both his recent results and his long-term potential.
Rounding out the group is middle-distance runner Stephen Evans, who has also been nominated for a Half Cardfollowing a campaign that included a silver medal at the Ontario Senior 800-metre Championships. A model of consistency, Evans has now been recognized through the Quest for Gold program in three successive seasons, highlighting his sustained presence at the provincial and national levels.
Final Quest for Gold card allocations are subject to confirmation by the Province of Ontario.