For 28 years, the Corbett name topped the 3000-metre leaderboard at Warren Collegiate — and it still does, thanks to a remarkable family moment on the track.
Last Thursday at the Zone V Track and Field Championships in Stonewall, Grade 12 student Ethan Corbett broke the school’s long-standing record in the 3000m — a mark set in 1997 by his father, Scott Corbett, who was there to witness the torch pass to the next generation.
In 1997, Warren Wildcats’ Scott Corbett set the school record of 9:42.21 in the 3000 metre.
Fast forward to last Thursday’s Zone 5 Track and Field Meet at College Stonewall Collegiate, Scott Corbett was in attendance when his record finally fell at the hands of grade 12 student, Ethan Corbett, Scott’s very own son.
“It was awesome,” said Ethan Corbett. “My whole high school career of running track I’ve been trying to break that record and it’s taken me four years and a lot of runs to get there but, yeah, it was an awesome feeling finally breaking it and he really wanted me to beat it too. He was motivating me. He says, ‘replace me on that, you replace me on that board.’”
Ethan officially ran a 9:37.08 which beat out his dad by over five seconds.
Following the run, the two shared a passing of the torch moment together.
“My record was going to be broke at some point,” said Scott Corbett. “I heard years ago that you should try to raise the next generation to be better than yourself so I was glad to see it broke and have Ethan be the one to do it. The 3000m is a tough race. Nice to see Ethan could achieve his goal on setting a new record as he has put hard work in at practices and meets for cross country and track over the years to do so.”
“Breaking the record was one thing but having it be my dad, that was just the best thing especially now to keep it in the family name and pass it along,” said Ethan Corbett. “It was a great moment to share with him and, yeah, Stonewall too, I like that track. I’ve been running there since grade five, and he’d come and watch me a couple times throughout then so that was the spot to do it.”
Also in attendance to congratulate Ethan was Scott’s former track coach, Rene Comeault, who is currently a substitute teacher at WCI and was helping run the meet and had also helped out with coaching the team this year.
Knowing that this year was the last chance to break the record, Ethan knew he needed to do a little extra.
He said he trained the same amount but had also grown taller since coming within 10 seconds of beating the record last year.
With great running conditions on Thursday, Ethan was able to put forth the record setting performance. He also gave props to his WCI track and field coach.
“I wouldn’t have been able to break that without the help of my coach, Fallon Campbell,” he said.
Ethan not only won the 3000m event but also took first place in the 1500m, 800m and a relay — all events he also won last year.
His finishes contributed to Warren Collegiate Institute winning the AA–AAA banner for most team points in their category.
Next, Ethan will turn his focus to the 2025 Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association Provincial Track and Field Championships, where he placed sixth in the 3000m a year ago.
This year’s provincial championships will run June 5–7 at University Stadium at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.
