Cross-Country Running Nationals heading to GPRC

The 2019 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Cross-Country Running National Championships will be hosted by GPRC in Grande Prairie, AB.

The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) institution will host the event Nov. 8-9, 2019.

Last March, GPRC hosted the successful 2018 CCAA Women’s Volleyball National Championship.

“Our department is always looking at ways that we can improve and provide better experiences for student-athletes,” said Ron Thomson, Director GPRC – Sport, Fitness and Wellness. “GPRC takes great pride in pushing the standard of National Championship hosting to be second to none.”

Cross-country running has a long and storied history at GPRC that began in the 1970s. The Wolves program has produced numerous ACAC and CCAA individual and team medalists.

Most recently, the last time CCAA Nationals were held in Alberta, GPRC earned gold in the women’s team event at the 2014 CCAA Cross-Country Running National Championships, hosted by SAIT in Calgary.

The site of the men’s and women’s races will be Muskoseepi Park, which is located just minutes away from the GPRC campus. The course will be designed by Bill Corcoran, CCAA Cross-Country Running Convenor and head coach of the GPRC running team.

Grande Prairie has played host to several major cross country meets over the past 25 years, including the 1997, 2008 and 2016 ACAC Cross-Country Running Championship. The local running community is experienced and well equipped to organize and run a successful event.

“GPRC is very excited to be the first institution to twice host the CCAA Cross-Country Running National Championships,” said Corcoran. “The 2007 meet was a lot of fun and we look forward to raising the bar in 2019.”

A community race will be incorporated into the activities and will take place following the men’s and women’s races, allowing time for coaches, team personnel and family members to participate.

The 2018 CCAA Cross-Country Running National Championships will be hosted by Seneca College in Toronto, ON, from Nov. 9-10, 2018.