By Isabella Disley
Stephan Balson, Zachary Jeggo and Ange-Mathis Kramo all left their mark in the senior boys’ long sprints at the OFSAA east regional track and field championships – including a pair in the record books – and each of them say that it never would have happened if they hadn’t made track their primary sport.
Balson became the first record-setter of the trio on Thursday at Terry Fox Athletic Facility when he bettered the 200-metre record of 21.26 seconds set last year by Will Batley, who withdrew before the meet due to a hamstring injury.
“It honestly feels surreal. Just last year, I ran in the same race where the previous record was set, and I finished third,” Balson reflected after lowering the benchmark by 0.03 seconds to 21.23. “Now, to hold the record myself is an incredible feeling and a reminder of how far I’ve come.”
Balson started running track at 14 years old in his home country of Saint Kitts and Nevis. He represented St. Kitts at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games and was also a part of a national under-20 4×400 m relay record last month at the Caribbean Free Trade Association Games in Trinidad and Tobago.
But if it weren’t for his Grade 8 physical education teacher, Balson would have likely continued playing soccer.
“He saw me running during class one day and told me I should try out for the track team,” recalled Balson, now a member of the Ottawa Lions Track and Field Club. “I’m forever grateful to him for that push, because it set me on this path.”
Balson is equally as gracious to represent Lisgar Collegiate Institute.
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“It means a lot,” he highlighted. “Especially since we’re mostly known for our academic excellence, I’m proud to show that we excel in all areas, whether it’s academics or athletics.”
At the 2024 OFSAA provincials, Balson won a silver medal in the 400 m behind Jeggo and finished 10th overall in the 200 m to miss the eight-runner final.
“I feel confident going into OFSAA, especially knowing I have one of the fastest times in the 200 m,” Balson indicated. “I had so much fun at OFSAA last year, so I’m excited for the opportunity to compete at that level again.”
Fellow Lions teammate Kramo placed third in both the 200 m and 400 m at the east regionals. Two weeks ago at the national capital west conference meet, the Grade 11 Paul-Desmarais sprinter erased a 43-year-old record in the 200 m with his 21.61 run.
“I’m honoured to be a record holder, but I still aspire to get better and set new records,” signalled Kramo, who started track in Grade 9. “Advancing to OFSAA is one of the steps. Obviously, I’m happy about it, but the real business happens in OFSAA, so I still got some work to do.”
An OFSAA 2024 junior boys’ 200 m gold medallist and a 100 m silver medallist in the 100 m who finished just 0.01 seconds out of first place in 10.72, Kramo used to play competitive basketball, but is glad to now sport track spikes.
“It feels amazing to represent my school,” he noted. “Having some support from some people that I see every day at school is nice and racing on a home track is always fun.”
Jeggo, who was previously focused on hockey as his primary sport, continued his record-setting trend at the east regionals.
After breaking his own 400 m city finals record last week by half a second in 47.50, the Louis-Riel student ran more than half-a-second faster at the east regionals to chop a full 1.19 seconds off the previous standard with his 46.97 performance.
“It feels good (breaking the record),” said Jeggo, who also won the east regionals 400 m hurdles by over two seconds in 53.42. “I’m trying to bring it down with my OFSAA and then, hopefully, get a win.”
Last year’s meet record-setting Canadian U18 men’s 400 m hurdles champion has committed to Simon Fraser University – an NCAA Division II school in British Columbia, where he will become a Red Leaf in the fall semester.
“I’m excited for that and it’ll be fun,” indicated the soon-to-be criminology student, while tipping his hat to his club and high school where he developed his land speed.
“I really like Louis-Riel. We have a strong team this year,” Jeggo added. “We have good coaches, so the school helps me a lot and helps me push myself.”
The pride of Lions athletes will gear up to represent the nation’s capital at the OFSAA Championships at the Toronto Track and Field Centre on June 5-7.
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