The World Athletics Championships took place in Eugene, Oregon, over the past ten days; the events started on Friday, July 15th, 2022, and came to a close this Sunday, July 24th. Team Canada had many ups and downs throughout the competition, but overall, this year’s World Championships was one to remember. Let’s take a look at some of Ontario’s notable performances!
On Friday, the men’s 100m heats took place; they were super speedy as seven men dipped under the 10-second barrier. Aaron Brown and Andre De Grasse secured spots in the 100m semi-finals. On Saturday, Brown clinched a spot in the final after running a season’s best of 10.06 in the semis. Brown was the only Canadian to make it through to the final after De Grasse did not qualify as he continued to battle a long recovery from COVID-19. In the 100m final, Brown finished eighth, crossing the line at 10.07.
Sunday brought Canada’s first medal as Camryn Rogers from Richmond B.C. won silver in the hammer throw final. Fellow hammer thrower and team co-captain Jillian Weir from Ontario finished fifth with a throw of 72.41m; this was her best performance at a World or Olympic-level event. Mohammed Ahmed, Canadian 10,000m record holder, finished sixth in a fast closing 10,000m final, with a time of 27:30.27.Wednesday brought some disappointment as Brandon McBride, the Canadian 800m record holder, ended up on the ground in the 800m heats after jostling for positions; McBride persevered and got up, crossing the line in 1:57.43. Although Athletics Canada appealed McBride’s race, unfortunately, the protest was denied. On Thursday, Brown returned, finishing seventh in the 200m final with a time of 20.18 seconds.
Saturday was a great day for Canada! Ontario athletes Aaron Brown, Brendon Rodney and Andre De Grasse, ran alongside Jerome Blake in the 4X100m. In the exciting final, De Grasse passed American anchor Marvin Bracy to capture gold. The quartette ran the quickest time in the world this season and set a National Record. This was Canada’s first world championship gold in the 4X100m since Robert Esmie, Glenroy Gilbert, Bruny Surin, and Donovan Bailey won 25 years ago at the 1997 World Championships in Athens.
The final day brought even more success for team Canada. Pierce LePage won silver in the decathlon taking home his first ever world medal after running a season’s best of 4:42.77 in the 1,500m. LePage had a fantastic decathlon obtaining personal bests in the 400m, 110m hurdles, and discus. Three Ontario athletes Natassha McDonald, Zoe Sherar, and Kyra Constantine competed with Aiyanna Stiverne in the women’s 4X400m finishing fourth, achieving a personal best finishing in a time of 3:25.18. These ladies whipped out the fourth fastest Canadian women’s 4X400m time in history. As a cherry on top, Mohammed Ahmed, defending Olympic 5,000m silver medalist, finished fifth in the 5,000m against a stacked final heat.
See below for full list of Ontario Athletes results.
Athlete |
Club |
Event |
Place |
Result |
| Mohammed Ahmed | Niagara Olympic Club | 5,000m | 5th | 13:10.46 |
| Mohammed Ahmed | Niagara Olympic Club | 10,000m | 6th | 27:30.27 |
| Khamica Bingham | Brampton TFC | 100m | 34th | 11.30 |
| Khamica Bingham | Brampton TFC | 4x100m | 10th | Overall: 43.09 |
| Aaron Brown | Star Athletics/Phoenix Athletics | 100m | 8th | 10.06 SB |
| Aaron Brown | Star Athletics/Phoenix Athletics | 4x100m | 1st | Overall: 37.48 WL |
| Aaron Brown | Star Athletics/Phoenix Athletics | 200m | 7th | 20.18 |
| Leya Buchanan | Nike | 4x100m | 10th | Overall: 43.09 |
| Kyra Constantine | Project Athletics | 4x400m | 4th | Overall: 3:25.18 SB |
| Andre De Grasse | Speed Academy | 100m | 20th | 10.21 |
| Andre De Grasse | Speed Academy | 4x100m | 1st | Overall: 37.48 WL |
| Crystal Emmanuel | Unattached | 100m | 39th | 11.48 |
| Crystal Emmanuel | Unattached | 4x100m | 10th | Overall: 43.09 |
| Lauren Gale | Ottawa Lions | 200m | 25ft | 23.08 |
| Lauren Gale | Ottawa Lions | 400m | 29th | 52.46 |
| Lauren Gale | Ottawa Lions | 4x400m | 4th | Overall: 3:25.18 SB |
| Natalia Hawthorn | Thunderbirds TFC / Brooks Running | 1500m | 23rd | 4:07.37 |
| Maddy Kelly | Royal City AC | 800m | 33rd | 2:02.71 |
| Pierce Lepage | Unattached | Decathlon | 2nd | 8701 pts |
| Jacqueline Madogo | Royal City AC | 4x100m | 10th | Overall: 43.09 |
| Brandon McBride | Border City Athletic Club | 800m | 41st | 1:57.43 |
| Jillian Weir | Unattached | Hammer Throw | 5th | 72.41 |
| Natassha McDonald | Project Athletics | 400m | 28th | 52.41 |
| Natassha McDonald | Project Athletics | 4x400m | 4th | Overall: 3:25.18 SB |
| Trinity Tutti | SISU Throws | Discus Throw | 30th | 54.36 |
| Kinsey Middleton | Unattached | Marathon | 26th | 2:32:56 |
| Alysha Newman | Bolton Pole Vault | Pole Vault | 16th | 4.35 |
| Lucia Stafford | Royal City AC | 1500m | 34th | 4:09.67 |
| Ben Preisner | Mile2Marathon | Marathon | 28th | 2:11:47 SB |
| Brendon Rodney | Unattached | 4x100m | 1st | Overall: 37.48 WL |
| Zoe Sherar | Royal City AC | 4x400m | 4th | Overall: 3:25.18 SB |
