Former Conestoga Condor cross-country athlete Jason Smith was inducted into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Hall of Fame.
Jason Smith, former Conestoga Condor cross-country runner, was inducted into the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
Smith is only the fifth athlete in Condor’s history to be an OCAA inductee.
He joins Fawn Day - Softball (2009), Penny English - Women’s Soccer (2009), Dave Long - Hockey (2013) and his former teammate David Sharratt - Cross Country (2023).
The induction ceremony took place on May 5 at the Pan Pacific Toronto hotel during the OCAA Hall of Fame Banquet, where athletes, coaches and builders from across the province gathered to celebrate excellence in collegiate sport.
“It means a lot. It’s recognition for the hard work that you put in,” Smith said. “You don’t expect anything in return when you’re training and competing in an individual sport. It’s something you do for your own growth, so when someone acknowledges it, it’s rare and it’s special. To be that person, to be honoured in this way, it’s pretty cool.”
Smith was also recently named one of the Top 50 CCAA Cross-Country Runners of All Time, further solidifying his place in Canadian collegiate athletics history. He is a two-time OCAA individual gold medallist, a team gold medallist and a two-time team MVP.
Andrew Bates, director of Sport and Recreation at Conestoga, applauded Smith for his determination and unwavering commitment to excellence that helped elevate the Condors program to new heights and inspired a generation of student-athletes who followed.
“This well-deserved honour reflects not only his remarkable athletic accomplishments — including multiple OCAA gold medals and MVP awards — but also the relentless drive and commitment he demonstrated throughout his time as a Condor. Jason’s legacy continues to inspire future Condors, and we are incredibly proud to see him recognized among the best in Ontario collegiate sport.”
Athletics & Recreation offers programming and facilities designed to engage Conestoga students and enhance their health and wellness through varsity and extramural athletics, intramural sports and fitness classes. The Student Recreation Centre at the Kitchener - Doon campus provides a full range of recreation and athletic services.