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Alexis Sets Three World Records at World Masters Indoors; Maguire Medals Again

The World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships wrapped up this past weekend, and Ottawa Lions athletes made their presence felt on the global stage—none more so than Wendy Alexis, who celebrated her 70th birthday in unforgettable fashion.

Just two days after entering a new age category, Alexis delivered a jaw-dropping performance in the W65 200 metres preliminary round on last Thursday, clocking 30.68 seconds to set a new World Indoor Record for the W70 age group. Though entered in the W65 category—as age groups are based on the athlete’s age at the start of the championship—Alexis’ performance instantly rewrote the history books.

She wasn’t done.

Later that same day, Alexis dropped under the previous W70 record once again in the semi-finals and then sliced off another 0.35 seconds in the final, crossing the line in 30.33. Despite finishing fourth and narrowly missing a podium spot by just 0.03 seconds, Alexis left no doubt about her world-class speed. Prior to the Championships, the W70 record stood at 31.17 seconds

But Alexis’ crowning moment may have come in the relays, where she anchored Canada’s W65 4x200m team to a World Record. The team finished in 2:07.42, obliterating the previous mark of 2:09.74 and winning by nearly 10 seconds over the United States.

“Didn’t just break it — SMASHED IT! By 2.50 seconds,” Alexis shared via email about the team’s record setting run. “I was the anchor and I’m sure that was the fastest 200 I’ve ever run. I was flying! We all were! This has been a freakin’ amazing meet for me. I felt as if I could run down anybody!”

Alexis also helped Canada to silver in the mixed 4x200m relay, leading off a team that finished in 2:03.14, behind the USA’s 2:01.53.

“Back home tomorrow,” she added. “As exciting as this has been (huge adrenaline rush daily), I’m looking forward to some quieter time.”

Meanwhile, Liz Maguire continued her impressive form, picking up silver in the W55 1500m on Saturday. Her time of 4:59.48 was not only her fastest of the season but also her quickest since 2017. The race was won by Michelle Rohl of the USA, who set a championship record of 4:50.34. The result mirrored last year’s outdoor world championships, where Maguire also finished second behind Rohl.

Several other Ottawa Lions athletes were in action:

  • Michael Conway ran a personal best of 53.40 in the M40 400m, finishing 11th overall.
  • Mike McInerney placed 14th in the M55 1500m with a time of 4:58.10.
  • Lawrence Williams clocked 25.87 in the M50 200m, finishing 19th—just one spot shy of advancing to the semi-finals.

With multiple medals, world records, and season-best performances, the World Masters Championships proved that age is just a number—and the Lions continue to roar on the global stage.

Roy Races to First Provincial Medal

Back in Toronto, the next generation of Ottawa Lions athletes was making strides of their own at the Ontario U14 & Rising Stars Indoor Finale.

In the U14 girls 800m race walk, Penny Roy captured her first provincial medal, earning silver with a time of 5:09.27. The performance marked a significant improvement from her previous best, set earlier this month at the Quebec Indoor Championships, and capped off a strong indoor season for the young athlete.

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Lions Triumph at World Masters Athletics Championship with Three Medals

Following in the footsteps of the Olympic Games, the Ottawa Lions continued to demonstrate their excellence on the international stage, earning three medals at the recent World Masters Athletics Championship, held in Gothenburg, Sweden, from August 13 to 25.

Wendy Alexis, competing in the W65 category, led the charge, securing a gold medal in the 100 metres and a silver in the 200 metres. After a stellar season that included Canadian and Pan American titles, Wendy added a world title to her impressive list of achievements. She claimed the top spot in the 100 metres with a time of 14.46 seconds, narrowly missing her seasonal best of 14.44 seconds.

Wendy’s silver in the W65 200 metres was equally impressive. Battling a strong 2.9 m/s headwind, she clocked in at 30.81 seconds, one of her fastest times this season.

For context, Wendy’s performances equate to a remarkable 11.24 seconds in the 100 metres and 23.62 seconds in the 200 metres when adjusted for age, according to the WMA Age Grading Calculator.

Liz Maguire also made her mark, capturing silver in the W55 1500 metres. Her time of 5:01.80 was her second-fastest of the season and, when adjusted for age, equates to 4:04.46. Liz’s performance adds to the Ottawa Lions’ proud legacy of success on the global stage.

Michael Conway, competing in the M40 category, advanced to the semi-finals of the 400 metres, placing 20th overall. A double medalist at the recent Pan Am Masters Games, Conway also finished 22nd in the 800 metres with a time of 2:08.39.

Also competing in Gothenburg, Michel Smith placed 48th and 52nd, respectively, in the M55 100 and 200 metre events. Lawrence Williams, competing in the M50 200 and 400 metre events, placed 59th and 37th, respectively.