Saul Taler of Ottawa Lions T.f.c competes in the men's U20 race at the Canadian Cross Country Championships at Fanshawe Golf Course in London, Ontario on Saturday, November 29, 2025.

Taler Makes Canada Debut at World Cross Country Championships in Florida

by Internationallinkinbio

Saul Taler’s first race in a Canadian kit was one he won’t soon forget.

The Ottawa Lions standout represented Canada for the first time Saturday at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, lining up in the U20 men’s 8-kilometre race against the best young distance runners in the world.

For the Queen’s University freshman, simply being on the start line was a moment to savour. “Running for my first national team was a really cool experience”, he reflected afterward. “It was pretty surreal lining up against some of the best runners in the world and it was an honour to compete for the Canadian team.”

Taler finished 41st overall in a field of 73, stopping the clock in 26:18 over one of the most demanding courses the championships have staged in recent years.

Set inside Apalachee Regional Park, the layout was built to showcase Florida’s rugged natural landscape, featuring sand, mud, water crossings and rolling terrain, highlighted by a signature “rollercoaster” section that challenged athletes throughout the race. Two looping circuits forced runners through four obstacle zones apiece, testing rhythm as much as endurance.

“The course was interesting to say the least”, Taler joked after the race. “The obstacles were rhythm breakers but weren’t as bad as I expected. To be honest the sand was probably the worst obstacle since you lost a lot of speed with the bad footing. In that sense, training back home paid off: The Mooney’s Bay sand definitely prepped me well – I’m just grateful it wasn’t as long as the stretch at Capital XC.”

Across the line, he emerged as Canada’s third finisher, 49 seconds behind national team leader Brody Clark, who placed 26th. The Canadian squad combined for 148 points to finish eighth in the team standings, just 12 points behind Spain. Chase Capes (37th), William Scharf (44th), Oliver Crowe (54th) and Eli Torrie (63rd) rounded out the results for the Canadians.

Up front, Kenya once again asserted its dominance, sweeping the podium for the sixth time in World Cross Country history. Frankline Kibet kicked clear in the closing stages to win in 23:18, leading a Kenyan 1-2-3-4 finish and securing team gold.

For Taler, Saturday’s result capped an eye-opening introduction to world-class racing, coming less than a year into his university career. The first-year Gael earned his place on the team after finishing 11th at the Canadian Cross Country Championships in November.

“Being surrounded by world-class athletes was extremely inspiring and motivates me to one day get to that level”, he said. “Going back to Queen’s, I’m more excited than ever to get back to training with the guys and get ready for track season.”

The significance of the performance also resonated back home. Taler’s 41st-place finish marked the best showing by an Ottawa Lion at the World Cross Country Championships since Danelle Woods placed 25th in the women’s U20 race in 2008, and the strongest men’s result since Olympian Sean Kaley finished 29th in the senior men’s short course race at the 1999 championships in Belfast.

In a neat personal twist, the Queen’s rookie even bettered the best World Cross Country result of his own coach, Mark Bomba. The Gaels leader was twice a member of Team Canada at the Championships, posting a best finish of 65th in the short course at the 2003 edition in Lausanne.

With his first international championship now behind him, Tallahassee stands as a major early milestone for one of the Lions’ emerging athletes on the world stage and, if his own words are any indication, just the beginning of a much bigger journey.

Full results from Saturday’s championship are available on the World Athletics website.

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Gale, Trapeau Named to Team Canada for World Championships in Tokyo

by Internationallinkinbio

From Ottawa to Tokyo, two Lions are set to chase glory on track and field’s biggest stage. Lauren Gale and Maëliss Trapeau will don the maple leaf for Team Canada at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, joining the world’s best athletes inside Japan’s iconic National Stadium this September.

The championships, set for September 13–21, will bring more than 2,000 athletes from 200 countries back to the Japan National Stadium—host venue of the 2020 Olympic Games—for the first time since Tokyo last staged the event in 1991. For Team Canada head coach, and Lions Hall of Famer, Glenroy Gilbert, the return to Tokyo is something special.

“It’s an amazing facility. It’s an amazing stadium. It’s just been waiting for this opportunity to welcome the world back to where the athletes can run in front of a full stadium of spectators,” Gilbert said in the Athletics Canada’s team announcement. “I think the athletes will have a blast. They’ll enjoy it. I’m looking forward to seeing them put on an amazing world championships. To have full stadiums of spectators cheering our athletes on will be a real special added bonus for those athletes that were there four years ago.”

For Gale, Tokyo will mark her second World Championships appearance following her historic debut in Eugene, Oregon, in 2022, when she became the first Lion to contest two individual events on the world stage.

The Colorado State alumna is slated to compete in the open 400m and relays, events in which she has already made an impact this season. At the World Relays in May, Gale helped Canada qualify for both the women’s and mixed 4x400m events, running on a national record-setting mixed relay team. She owns a season’s best of 51.00 seconds, recorded at the Irena Szewińska Memorial in Poland, and most recently placed sixth at the NACAC Championships in the Bahamas.

Gale also has history in Tokyo, having been part of Canada’s 2020 Olympic team as a 4x400m alternate.

For Trapeau, Tokyo will be her first international outing in Canadian colours. The dual citizen previously represented France at the 2018 World U20 Championships before re-establishing herself in Ottawa.

A graduate of the University of Ottawa, Trapeau relocated to France after her studies to pursue the 800m. This year, she broke the two-minute barrier for the first time with a personal best of 1:59.09 in Toulouse, just shy of the World Championship standard of 1:59.00. Since rejoining the Lions in July, she has captured her first Canadian title. Just two weeks ago in Switzerland, she once again dipped under two minutes, clocking 1:59.86 at the Fribourg International Meeting.

To follow Lauren and Maëliss in Tokyo, you can catch all the action live on CBC Gem. Below is the event schedule (all times Eastern)

  • Mixed 4x400m Relay
    Heats – Friday, Sept. 12, 10:55 p.m.
    Final – Saturday, Sept. 13, 9:20 a.m.
  • Women’s 400m
    Heats – Sunday, Sept. 14, 6:25 a.m.
    Semifinal – Tuesday, Sept. 16, 8:05 a.m.
    Final – Thursday, Sept. 18, 9:24 a.m.
  • Women’s 800m
    Heats – Thursday, Sept. 18, 6:55 a.m.
    Semifinal – Friday, Sept. 19, 7:45 a.m.
    Final – Sunday, Sept. 21, 6:35 a.m.
  • Women’s 4x400m Relay
    Heats – Saturday, Sept. 20, 7:00 a.m.
    Final – Sunday, Sept. 21, 7:40 a.m.
(Ottawa, Canada---16 August 2023) Wendy Alexis competes in the 200m at Ottawa Summer Twilight Series Meet #11. Copyright 2023 Sean Burges / Mundo Sport Images.

Alexis Wins Gold, Maguire Adds Bronze at World Masters Indoor Championships

by InternationallinkinbioMasters

When most people hear you’re heading to Florida in March for a track and field meet, they assume you’re chasing an early start to the outdoor season — soaking up the sun and easing into competition. But for seven Ottawa Lions athletes, there’s no easing up. They’ve touched down in the Sunshine State for the World Masters Indoor Championships, and they’ve come to race.

Case in point, just three days into the Championship and Lions athletes have already set the Gainesville track on fire with a pair of medals and another top-8 finish.

Wendy Alexis gave herself an early birthday present on Monday — a world title. Just one day shy of turning 70, the Ottawa Lions sprinter stormed to gold in the W65 60 metres, clocking 8.95 seconds to edge Puerto Rico’s Marie-Lande Mathieu by just 0.07 in a thrilling final. It was her final day of eligibility in the age group, and she made it count — finishing just 0.15 seconds shy of the world record. The retired school teacher now adds another global title to her resume, having won the W65 100 metres at last summer’s outdoor championships.

Liz Maguire also reached the podium Monday, racing to bronze in the W55 800 metres. After winning her heat in 2:44.93 on Sunday, the three-time Canadian masters champion sped to an 2:32.40 in the final — her fastest indoor 800 since 2017 and her quickest overall since 2019. Maguire battled it out from the gun with Australia’s Caroline Fox with the pair never more than a step away from each other all race. The result also marked Maguire’s first global medal at the distance, following a silver in the 1500 meters at last year’s outdoor championships.

In the W40 division, Kimberley Howitt made a couple big steps in her running career. First, Howitt posted a lifetime best of 2:24.67 in the heats to nab the eighth and final qualifying spot. Then in Monday’s final, the 40-year-old ran another personal best in the final, finishing with a time of 2:23.73.

On the men’s side, Gilles Frenette was busy with a double. He placed 14th in the M45 800 metres heats (2:14.22) on Sunday and returned for another 14th-place finish in today’s 3,000 metres, crossing in 10:52.26. Mike McInerney finished 13th in the M55 800 metres, clocking 2:26.35.

The Lions are back in action on Wednesday as Lawrence Williams takes to the track in the M50 200m heats. Action continues through the weekend with the Championships wrapping up Sunday.

World Para Athletics Championships, Paris 2023. July 9 2023. Bianca BORGELLA (CAN), 100m T13 heats

Borgella wins bronze at World Para Athletics Championship

by Internationallinkinbio

On July 7, 2021 we got a sneak peak of what the future had in store. That Wednesday evening in Ottawa at a Twilight Meet, Bianca Borgella broke the Canadian T13 record in the women’s 100 metres. It was her first time racing the distance in a Lions uniform and was the first in a string of Canadian records for the University of Ottawa student.

Today, Borgella added another title to her growing track resume – World Championship medalist. The 20-year-old sprinter placed third in the T13 100 metres with a time of 12.16 seconds at the World Para Athletics Championship taking place in Paris, France this week. 

“I’m really happy with the result,” said Borgella of today’s run. “Not the time that I was expecting, but as it being my first world, I’m just happy that I’m able to experience it and take home a bronze in the end.”

Bianca had entered the Championship as a medal favourite with her Canadian record time of 12.12 seconds from earlier this season topping the world rankings prior to the Championship. 

She would be knocked out of that spot in the rankings in Sunday’s semi-final when Azerbaijan’s Lamiya Valiyeva took top spot in 11.89 seconds with Borgella close behind in a new Canadian record of 12.03 seconds. 

For Borgella, today’s result appears to be just another stepping stone on her journey in athletics. 

“All I can do is my best for that day and hopefully the next day just be stronger and keep training and work harder. And one day bring back a gold in the 100.”

Borgella will return to action at the Championships early on Tuesday as she is scheduled to compete in the T13 200 metre semi-finals at 4:14am Eastern time.

For results, visit the International Paralympic Committee page.

The championships can be live streamed on the IPC YouTube page.

(Langley, British Columbia ---25 June 2022) Lauren Gale competing on day four of the Canadian Track and Field Championships at McLeod Athletic Park. Photograph 2022 Copyright Miles Ryan Rowat / Mundo Sport Images

Gale finishes 26th in 200m; turns eye to 4×4 at World Championships

by Internationallinkinbio

It’s been a busy year for Lauren Gale. Since opening her season on the 15th of January, the 22-year-old had raced no less than 33 times before arriving here in Eugene for the World Championships. Two races in and she remains hungry for the next one. 

Gale was in tough Monday night in her heat of the 200 metres. Lined up to the outside of defending bronze medalist Mujinga Kambundji and world number two Abby Steiner, the Club record holder was fourth across the line in 23.08 seconds. Gale’s performance fell just short of qualifying on time as she finished 26th overall in the field of 44. 

“I’m very happy with my time considering I’ve been running for a while,” explained Gale following her race. “I’m happy to come fourth in my race behind such great competitors.”

Now the focus for Gale shifts to Canada’s 4×400 metre relay team, which begins their quest for a spot on the podium Saturday night. 

The Canadian women, including Gale as an alternate, finished an agonizing fourth last year in Tokyo – the second Olympics in a row. Heading into the weekend, the goal is simple, “I’m hoping Canada medals,” said Gale. 

“I think we’re got the talent to do so. I think all three other girls are very competitive and I think they are ready. 

The 4×400 metre heats go Saturday night at 8:10pm eastern and can be streamed live on CBC.ca

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Gale places 29th in World Championship 400m

by Internationallinkinbio

“It feels awesome.” That’s how sprinter Lauren Gale described the experience of running in her first World Athletics Championship. The 22-year-old sprinter placed fifth in her heat of the 400 metres in a time of 52.46 second, missing out on one of the three automatic qualifying spots. 

“I haven’t run at Oregon on this track yet, so to break it in at a World Championship is just an amazing feeling,” explained Gale following her heat.  The recent Colorado State University graduate had expected to get her first taste of the Hayward magic last month at the NCAA Championships, but her collegiate season was cut short by a case of COVID which forced her to withdraw from the West Regional Preliminaries. 

Gale pushed the pace for the first 200, splitting 24.5 at the halfway mark and finding herself in a tight battle for second place. However, as the field entered the home stretch, the field had caught up and eventually passed her as she shifted back to fifth.

There is still more to come from Gale this championship as she lines in heat five of the 200 metre preliminaries tonight at 9:28pm eastern. You can catch all the action live on CBC.