Thunder Bay, ON – From record-breaking performances to heartfelt moments of inclusion, the 2025 NWOSSAA Track and Field Championships showcased the exceptional talent and sportsmanship of Northwestern Ontario’s top high school athletes.
The regional event officially concluded Wednesday, after two days at Fort William Stadium. Now, the region's finest are setting their sights on the prestigious OFSAA Track and Field Championships.
The action kicked off Tuesday in the 2,000-metre steeplechase. Hammarskjold High School’s Min Dobson shattered her own NWOSSAA record, finishing in 7:43.13 and beating her previous best set in 2023. On the boys’ side, Tristan Jaspers of Westgate displayed dominance with a commanding win in 6:49.81, finishing over 36 seconds ahead of runner-up Bradley Kaemingh (7:26.02).
The pace didn’t slow on day two with the 200-metre, 800-metre, and 3,000-metre races drawing loud cheers from the crowd. St. Patrick High School's Orlando Allison stole the spotlight in the men’s 200m sprint, capturing gold with a powerful performance.
“I was visualizing my race, trying to execute my plan, push the turn, stay relaxed on the straight,” said Allison, the Grade 11 sprinter. “I’ve been training for six months with the Lakehead Track and Field Club, and it’s been good so far.” He added “This is my first OFSAA year, and I have great plans. I appreciate the fact that we trained hard. We had to win, and we're in a good spot to win the whole thing.”
A heartwarming highlight of the championships was the participation of Special Olympics athletes, who competed in the 100m, 50m, baseball throw, and long jump. Their determination and joy captivated everyone in attendance, earning roaring support from fans and fellow competitors alike.
Across both days, field events like javelin, shot put, triple jump, long jump, high jump, and discus brought personal bests and passionate performances. The technical skill and tenacity on display kept the crowd fully engaged.
The meet’s grand finale, the four-by-100 relay, delivered on all fronts. Hammarskjold High School claimed top honours in the open category for both women and men. The women’s team, Lyndsay Gerry, Marina Anvar, Kate Clouthier, and Itiafa Olowola, executed a flawless hand-off sequence to take the win. The men’s team, Jason Turek, Justin Turek, Frank Aguilera, and Jacob Roy, followed with an equally commanding victory, closing the meet.
Leia Blieske of St. Ignatius, another standout Grade 11 athlete, shared her thoughts on performance and growth following her 400-metre race.
“I tried to train my mental thoughts, try to have a good positive outlook on the race,” Blieske said. “I went through how to run the race properly and execute it. Honestly, just eating good beforehand helped.”
She added, “Honestly, I told myself to keep picking up my legs, swing my arms, keep good posture and run well.”
She commented on yesterday’s performance “My favourite event is probably the 400, every time I run it, I learn something new. That race yesterday taught me a lot, and I hope to bring that forward into my races.”
With the regional championship now in the rear-view mirror, all eyes turn to Toronto for the June 5-7 OFSAA meet where Northwestern Ontario’s best will face off against top athletes from across the province.
