The World’s Masters Athletics Championships took place in Tampere, Finland, from June 29th to July 10th. Much anticipation surrounded this championship after the previously scheduled world’s masters was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

We saw some amazing performances from our Ontario Masters athletes individually and as a team. Makie Ohler had a fantastic event. She came 4th in the W60 1500m and won gold in the W60 half marathon, finishing with a time of 1:35.58. Ohler also snipped silver in the W60 8km cross country with a time of 31:49:00, and alongside Clara Northcott and Elizabeth Waywell, the trio brought home silver for Canada in the W60 team marathon! 

That wasn’t all from our ladies; Aimee Jessop won bronze in the W40 800m with a time of 2.10.34, and Elizabeth Waywell won silver in the W60 Half marathon with a time of 1:37:28. Kate Cochrane Brink scored a gold medal in the W50 2000m Steeplechase finishing with a time of 8.51.82, and Nancy Patten stole the bronze in the W65 2000m steeplechase with a time of 11.34.49 

 Keijo Taivassalo won gold in the M80 half marathon with a smashing time of 2:07.45. Ontario athletes Marcus Skeete, Mike Sherar, and Craig Maclean competed in the M50 4 x 400m relay and won silver for Canada, finishing with a total time of 3.49.26. Jason Foubert, Marcus Skeete and Chris Lemassief got bronze in the M50 4 x 100m relay with a speedy overall time of 48.01. Boris Zaitchouk won the bronze medal in the M70-74 hammer throw surpassing his previous PB of 46.28m, throwing a whopping 51.50m.

Ontario’s representatives did more than just win races; Shaggy Doug Smith was awarded the Bronze WMA pin for his service to the organization, and Phil Martin was awarded official of the meet! Great work from our Team Canada athletes in Finland!