Intermittent rain and heat did not deter the hundreds of young competitors who displayed athletic prowess recently at The Royal Canadian Legion’s National Youth Track and Field Championships in Calgary from August 8-10. Records were broken as participants achieved personal bests, honed their athletic skills, and made new connections.
47th annual national track and field competition attracts more competitors than ever
CALGARY, AB, 20 AUGUST 2025 – Intermittent rain and heat did not deter the hundreds of young competitors who displayed athletic prowess recently at The Royal Canadian Legion’s National Youth Track and Field Championships in Calgary from August 8-10. Records were broken as participants achieved personal bests, honed their athletic skills, and made new connections.
“My 200 went really well,” said Dennis Iriowen of Legion Team Ontario, who came away a winner in the men’s 200 m race. “I wasn’t expecting to win at 20.8 (seconds), I was expecting to break the records but just not by that magnitude,” he said with excitement after his gold medal feat. At the end of the Games, Iriowen received the award for top male (Legion) athlete. Lily Stroda of Team British Columbia/Yukon was named top female (Legion) athlete and is the national record holder in the U18 women’s heptathlon.
The Legion Nationals are Canada’s only track and field competition for youth in the U16 and under U18 categories. Over one thousand athletes from across the country – the highest number in Games history - competed at Calgary’s Foothills Athletic Park; in over 80 events from distance running to long jumps.
“Youth under the age of 18 can come and participate in high level track and field competition and I’m so proud to be a part of that,” said Legion Dominion Sports Chair Trevor Jenvenne.
The Legion sponsored hundreds of athletes in 2025, with the support of branches and provincial/ territorial commands from across the country. Robin Allard from Legion Team Québec, won medals in running events, and expressed his great feeling of achievement. “To get this kind of recognition at the end of the year, all my work paid off!” he shared.
The Games also attract hundreds of open athletes each year, such as Justin So from Ontario. He described how he learned an important lesson this year, like not rushing up to the front too quickly in longer races like the 1200 m.
“It was definitely a learning experience, definitely could have done my strategy a bit better,” he explained, but said it was a lesson he needed to learn. And through it all, he enjoyed the competitive atmosphere, making a lot of new friends with whom he plans to stay in contact.
Other athletes also commented on the engaging spirit of the Games, no matter the outcome in their events. That included enthusiastic competitors from Legion Team Nova Scotia.
“Really an honour to be here, really excited, let’s bring home some medals!” exclaimed Nic Blois (hammer throw). His teammate Lily Lantz (shot put) said: “I’ve already competed once, it’s such an amazing experience, meeting a whole bunch of people.” A sentiment echoed by Belle Pierrard (discus) who shared: “It’s been so fun to compete here … making new friends!”
Chase Marker (medley race) from Legion Team Alberta/Northwest Territories was happy to set a personal best, meet new people from other provinces, and to receive great support from those around him. “Overall, it’s just been an amazing experience,” he said. His teammate Jack Rajakaruna shared similar thoughts. “It’s been great, the dorms, the food, the environment.”
Back for a third year in 2025, was Games Ambassador Michael Trauner, an Invictus medalist, competitive rower and cyclist, and decorated para athlete. Trauner supported and encouraged the Legion team athletes while sharing parts of his personal story as an Afghanistan Veteran.
“It was another great event,” he said. “It was great to spend so much time with the kids again. Some were even emotional that it was over.”
The championships always commemorate a notable Remembrance milestone, and this year it was the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands. The Legion and participants recognized the Canadian Veterans who were part of that mission, during the Opening Ceremonies and through the design on the backside of the winning medals.
The Legion Nationals grew from Legionnaires’ support and promotion of youth sports as a healthy activity to help children whose fathers or mothers were serving abroad or had served in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The Legion later developed local, provincial, and national youth athletic programs, which now culminate in the Games. Over the years, many Legion Nationals athletes have gone on to compete at the international level including as part of the Commonwealth, Pan Am and even the Olympic games.
“I’m just amazed at the quality of these young athletes,” said Legion Dominion President Berkley Lawrence during the event. “When the announcer says number one in Canada, number two in Canada for their age bracket, it’s just amazing.”
Selected Canadian cities hold the Legion Nationals for two years in a row, and Regina will host in 2026 and 2027.
The Legion remains grateful to all its generous 2025 sponsors including key supporters PIB Inc., The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, the Calgary Track Council, The City of Calgary, the Legion’s Alberta Northwest Territories Command, the Brawn Family Foundation, Calgary Spring Water, Tourism Calgary and Athletics Canada. The organization also thanks Cochrane Toyota for providing two Games shuttles for the second year in a row.
Learn more: 2025 Competition images and results:
2025 Final results
Legion Flickr images
Local organizing committee/Calgary Track Council images
Legion Magazine (a separate entity) overview
About the kick-off Friday, August 8
Learn more about the Legion Nationals:
2025 Legion Nationals information centre
Legion Nationals background
Review Legion Nationals social:
Facebook
Instagram
About The Royal Canadian Legion
Founded in 1925, the Legion is Canada’s largest Veteran support and community service organization. We are a non-profit organization with a national reach across Canada as well as branches in the U.S., and in Europe. With more than 270,000 members, many of whom volunteer an extraordinary amount of time to their branches, our strength is in our numbers.
Public Relations & Media: nbond@legion.ca – 343-540-7604
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