The 2026 Ontario Summer Games officially got underway on Thursday, July 30, as athletes from across the province gathered in Waterloo Region for the Opening Ceremonies. The Games, Ontario’s largest multi-sport event, welcomed approximately 4,000 athletes, coaches, and officials representing 23 sports. For many young athletes, the Ontario Summer Games provide their first opportunity to compete as part of a regional team while facing the best competitors from across Ontario.
The Georgian Bay Coyotes were represented by three athletes who earned selection to their regional teams through outstanding performances during the outdoor track and field season. Madelyn Moores and Casey Mothersell competed for Team Peninsula (Zone 3), while Caleb Cleland represented Team Corridor (Zone 5). Together, the three athletes competed in seven individual events over two days of competition, with Casey and Caleb also contributing to their teams in the 4-2-2-8 medley relay.
The Games began Friday morning with the distance events, where Madelyn and Casey lined up against some of the province’s strongest U14 competitors in the 2000m. Madelyn Moores had an outstanding race, running with confidence and determination to finish fifth overall in a personal best time of 7:20.69. Her performance shattered her previous best by an incredible 19 seconds, earning valuable points for Team Peninsula and placing her among Ontario’s top young distance runners.
Casey Mothersell opened his Games with the U14 2000m, competing against a strong field that included many athletes in the older half of the age group. Casey got out aggressively, with a strong opening lap that kept him with the lead pack. Although the fast start challenged him through the middle portion of the race, he showed determination and finished strongly, narrowly missing his personal best.
Friday afternoon featured the 800m, where Caleb Cleland represented Team Corridor. Caleb got off the line quickly and helped set the tone and pace for the race from the start. The high level of competition pushed Caleb throughout the event and helped him achieve a new personal best time of 2:28.77.
Saturday brought another full day of competition and new challenges for the Coyotes’ athletes. With Team Peninsula looking for athletes to fill sprint events, Casey volunteered to step outside his usual distance events and take on the 150m. Competing in his first 150m race, Casey embraced the opportunity to contribute to his team while gaining valuable experience in a new event.
Later that day, Casey returned to the track for the 1200m. Using lessons learned from his previous races, he ran a more controlled and evenly paced race, setting a new personal best by improving his previous mark by five seconds. The 1200m marked another strong performance for Madelyn, who continued her impressive weekend with another personal best. She crossed the finish line in 4:04.07, lowering her previous best by 7.5 seconds, adding more valuable points to Team Peninsula’s overall score.
Later Saturday afternoon, Caleb took on another new challenge as he competed in the long jump. Although long jump is not his primary event, Caleb embraced the opportunity to represent Team Corridor and gain experience in a new area of track and field.
To finish off the Games, both Casey and Caleb had the opportunity to represent their teams in the 4-2-2-8 medley relay. For both athletes, this was their first relay experience, and there was some understandable nervousness heading into the event as they prepared for the handoffs. Their practise with their teammates paid off, and both exchanges went off without a hitch. Casey ran the 200m leg for Team Peninsula, holding his own against experienced 200m sprinters and helping his team earn a fifth-place finish in the relay. The result contributed valuable points toward Team Peninsula’s impressive overall third-place team finish.
Caleb ran the opening 400m leg for Team Corridor and delivered an impressive performance, recording a time of 1:03.88 (unofficial). His strong opening leg helped set the tone for the relay and provided another memorable moment from his Ontario Summer Games experience.
While the athletes travelled to the Ontario Summer Games to compete, the experience extended far beyond the results on the track. What started as a group of competitors quickly became a group of friends, spending time together throughout the three-day event and creating memories that will last well beyond the competition. Living together in the Laurier University residences also provided valuable opportunities for growth, as the athletes gained independence, developed important life skills, and experienced what it was like to be part of a larger multi-sport event. The confidence they gained, the friendships they made, and the experiences they shared will stay with them long after the Games are over.
