Local athletes dominate at Canadian Track and Field Championships

Ryan Georgeson of London Legion TFC wins a photo finish in the U20 800m at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Ottawa (Source: Athletics Canada)

A haul of gold medals is coming to the London region after the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Ottawa, Ont.

Nine different athletes who were born in the area captured first place in their event.

Jackson Mackay, 19, won the decathlon title with 7812 points, and set championship records in the decathlon 110m hurdles, discus, and high jump on his way to the crown.

“I’m happy to be done all ten events because it’s a grind,” Mackay told reporters after the event.

“It’s a long two days having to eat well throughout the whole thing, competing through pain and I’m just so happy to be done and that I’ve done so well.”

Mackay was dominant, winning six of the ten events and finishing second in the other four. He did miss the standard to qualify for the Commonwealth games after finishing three seconds off his goal in the 1500 metres.

“I missed out by a couple a couple tens of points,” said Mackay.

“At the end of the day, I’m just I’m so happy with how I did and yeah, can’t complain.”

More of his London Western Track and Field Club (TFC) teammates are also bringing home the gold.

Julia Tunks won the Senior Women’s Discus for the third time with a throw of 59.97 m.

“Always an honour to compete on home soil in front of such amazing people,” Tunks wrote on social media.

“This one was tough, but I found a way through and defended my title. Now it’s time to get back to work and prepare for something big at the Commonwealth Games.”

Her younger sister Jenna added another national title by winning the U20 Women’s Discus with a throw of 51.33m.

“I’m super grateful that my dad (former Olympian Jason Tunks) is able to coach me and that he’s had such a great career and my sister’s also following that, so I feel like I’m just like the little sister,” said Tunks.

“It was a rough start, but I composed myself and I threw a good mark for me. I’m pretty sure I’m going to Worlds after I just threw standard.”

Fellow London Western TFC athlete Erik Tyler won the Javelin with a throw of 73.48m, sealing national gold in style.

London Legion TFC athletes Ryan Georgeson and Brooke Overholt are also Canadian Champions.

Georgeson needed a photo finish to win the U20 men’s 800m championship. Just 0.08 seconds separated gold and silver in one of the closest finishes of the championships.

The Medway high school student is bringing home gold in a time of 1:52.43

St. Marys, Ont. Native Brooke Overholt is the 400m hurdles champion just a year after having surgery. She led a strong podium in a time of 56.53.

“I had surgery in April of last year and I started running in July and it was just telling myself to get through those hard moments, get through learning to run again, to get back on the national stage, on the international stage and competing in these events again. It just feels great.”

AJ Stanat of St. Thomas Legion TFC won the Men’s Shot Put with a throw of 18.20m and London-born runners Lucia Stafford won the 1500m for the fourth time and her sister Gabriela Debues-Stafford took the 5000m.