News Archives: GPRC Runner, Coaches Finish Careers at Nationals
Monday, November 4th, 2019
Fourth year runner, Brittany Duvall.
Brittany Duvall is thrilled she can complete her cross-country running career in Grande Prairie.
The Wolves runner, an Eaglesham, Alberta native, is participating in her fourth Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Cross Country Running National Championships, being held here on Nov. 8-9.
Coaches Bill Corcoran and Rick Scott retire after 29 and 28 years respectively.
Duvall’s in the Personal Trainer Diploma Program en route to pursuing a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree which she plans to complete at the University of Alberta, starting next year.
Taking three classes per term has allowed her to focus on running. Once she heads to Edmonton, Duvall will need to concentrate on her academics with up to six classes on her plate.
Her goal is a career in rehabilitation.
“I’m excited for it. I don’t want to leave anything out there,” she says “I want to have a really good race and know I did my best. To be doing this for a fourth consecutive year is really amazing in itself and it’s a good feeling.”
It will be bittersweet, though. Duvall has battled injuries in recent years and would like nothing better than to eclipse her best time for a 6 kilometre race – 27 minutes – achieved in 2018.
“I will be happy to get my body healthy again but I am going to miss it like crazy. “It’s been a big part of my life.”
Her season best time this year is 28 minutes.
Duvall has previously appeared at Nationals held in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Montreal and Toronto.
She’s pleased the Nationals will be held in familiar territory, a route through Muskoseepi Park.
“One of the hills is part of our practice on Tuesdays,” she says.
Duvall is also delighted to have Grande Prairie athletics enthusiasts getting the opportunity to see a high calibre of running.
“It’s really awesome to be part of that.”
Duvall, who has also played hockey, began running in Grade 9 in her hometown. Staff at Eaglesham School recognized her running potential and referred her to GPRC Coach Bill Corcoran.
Being on the cross country squad is a seven-day-a-week proposition that involves four days of team training (including intervals and hills). The remainder of the week is individual work.
Coaches Stepping Down
The Nationals provides closure in a way,” says Corcoran. “It is really an opportunity to showcase the college and our cross country running program. We get to host the nation, how cool is that?
“GPRC oftentimes is not in the national spotlight, so to be able to have the opportunity to do this event and to involve people from the college, the community and our alumni is a really nice way to go out.”
Corcoran is proud of what he and Scott have been able to accomplish over the years.
“We built the program together,” he says. “At first, we couldn’t get a full women’s team together. Since then we have had a number of provincial champions and the top college women’s team in 2002 and 2014, a year where our team had the best team score with four runners in top 11.”
Scott says the Nationals are a career highlight and a great way to go out on top.
“It’s been a good run,” he laughs. “The championships and the medals are the ultimate reason why we do this, but there are so many things that lead up to them that are incredibly meaningful, too. The training and travelling were also fun.”
He said there have been some great memories away from the track that he will cherish.
“Coming back from the Nationals in Sault Ste. Marie, we jumped into Lake Superior. The water was COLD in November. It was just something we had to do. For some students, when we travelled by air, it was their first time in an airplane. Going east, some of our athletes had never been east of Lloydminster. There were other things like playing cards when we travelled by van that were great fun but had nothing to do with running.
“I am going to miss being around the students and the road trips. With Bill retiring it was the right time to leave, too. I will have more time to take photos and spend time with the family, travel and enjoy the fall colours.”
Learn more about the upcoming National Championships at