Wikipedia

Parker Valby

Parker Alys Valby (born September 27, 2002) is a professional American track and field and cross-country athlete.[2] She is a six-time NCAA champion and the current NCAA record holder for the indoor 5000m, outdoor 5000m, and outdoor 10000m.

Parker Valby
Personal information
Full nameParker Alys Valby
Born (2002-09-27) September 27, 2002 (age 22)
Pennsylvania[1]
Home townTampa, Florida
EmployerNew Balance
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)3000m, 5000m, 10000m
College teamUniversity of Florida
TeamNew Balance Boston
Turned proOctober 17, 2024
Coached byMark Coogan
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)3000m: 8:41.50 i (The Track at New Balance, 2024)
5000m: 14:51.44 (Eugene, Oregon, 2024)
10000m: 30:50.43 (Azusa, 2024)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing the  United States
Representing
Florida Gators/
Southeastern Conference
NCAA Cross Country Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Charlottesville 6km
Silver medal – second place 2022 Stillwater 6km
NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships
Gold medal – first place 2024 Boston 3000 meters
Gold medal – first place 2024 Boston 5000 meters
NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Austin 5000 meters
Gold medal – first place 2024 Eugene 5000 meters
Gold medal – first place 2024 Eugene 10000 meters
Silver medal – second place 2022 Eugene 5000 meters

Early life

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From East Lake, Pinellas County, Florida, she attended East Lake High School.[3] She was a competitive swimmer before first running cross-country in 2016. When asked to try track and field as well, she was initially reluctant and it meant having to give up lacrosse.[4] She became the Florida state champion and the Florida state all-time record holder whilst still a junior.[5][6] However, she was unable to compete during her senior year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]

Collegiate career

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Valby competed for the University of Florida. Her sophomore year she finished runner-up to Katelyn Tuohy in the 5000m at the NCAA Track and Field Championships by running a personal best of 15:20:10. This second-place performance helped Florida win the team title.[8][9]

The following fall, Valby once again finished runner-up to Tuohy but this time at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Oklahoma.[10] That spring, she won the 5000m at the 2023 NCAA Track and Field Championships helping Florida finish as team runner-up.[11]

Valby started out her redshirt junior season strong by winning the Wisconsin Nuttycombe invite over rival Katelyn Tuohy in a course time of 19:17.2.[12]

In November 2023, she won the NCAA Cross Country Championship in Charlottesville, Virginia. She ran a new NCAA record time of 18:55.2 for the 6 km course to win by 10 seconds ahead of Doris Lemngole of the University of Alabama.[13]

On December 2, 2023, Valby set a new NCAA record for the indoor 5000m while competing at Boston University. Her time of 14:56.11 eclipsed the mark of 15:12.22 set by Emily Sisson in 2015.[14]

At the 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships, Valby broke her own collegiate record in the 5000m and picked up another NCAA title, running 14:52.79 in Boston.[15] She negative split the race, running 7:33 for first half and 7:19 for her second. She had a comfortable margin of victory ahead of 2nd placer Taylor Roe who finished in 15:15.[16] The next day she also won the 3000m indoor national championship in a personal record of 8:41.50.[17]

In April 2024, she ran a time of 30:50.43 for the 10,000 metres at the Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, California. It was a new American collegiate record, previously held by Lisa Uhl.[18] Valby set a new championship record winning the 5000 metres at the SEC Championship in Gainesville, Florida on May 11, 2024.[19]

Year SEC Cross Country NCAA South Regional Cross Country NCAA Cross Country SEC Indoor Track NCAA Indoor Track SEC Outdoor Track NCAA Outdoor Track
2021–22 4th 2nd 27th - - 2nd - 5000m 2nd - 5000m
2022–23 1st 1st 2nd - - 1st - 5000m 1st - 5000m
2023–24 1st 1st 1st 1st - 3000m; 1st DMR 1st - 5000m; 1st - 3000m 1st - 5000m 1st - 10000m; 1st - 5000m

Professional career

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Valby competed in the 2024 Olympic trials held in Eugene, Oregon. She finished fourth in the 5000m event, one spot out of making the Olympic team. She returned for the 10000m event later in the trials, where she finished second behind Weini Kelati.[20] After finishing in the top three for the 10000m, Valby was selected for the Olympics based on her World Athletics ranking.[21][22] She competed in the 10,000 metres at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris in August 2024, placing eleventh in the final in 30:59.28.[23]

On October 17, 2024, Valby announced that she had signed a professional contract with New Balance. She will join New Balance Boston and be coached by Mark Coogan.[24]

Sponsorship

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In June 2023, Valby signed an endorsement agreement with sportswear brand Nike.[25] In doing so, she became the first female college track and field athlete to have a name, image, and likeness agreement with this brand.[26]

Honors and awards

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Achievements

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International competitions

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Representing the   United States
Year Competition Venue Position Event Time
2024 Olympic Games Paris, France 11th 10000m 30:59.28

National championships

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Year Competition Venue Position Event Time
2024 USA Olympic Trials Eugene, Oregon 4th 5000 m 14:51.44
2nd 10000 m 31:41.56

NCAA titles

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References

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  1. ^ Parker Valby After SMASHING the NCAA 5k Record in 14:56!!! The Stride Report
  2. ^ "Parker Valby". World Athletics. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  3. ^ "Parker Valby". Florida Gators. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  4. ^ Putnam, Bob (October 31, 2018). "Once a reluctant runner, East Lake's Parker Valby now leads the pack". Tampabay.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  5. ^ "Parker Valby Went from Inexperienced Runner to State Champ". baynews9.com. October 16, 2019. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  6. ^ Grasley, Todd. "Parker Valby Runs State Record Girls 3,200m - Florida State Meet Recap 2019". Runnerspace.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  7. ^ Lyden, Adair (April 26, 2020). "Open Letter From HS Coach To FL 3200m State Record Holder". fl.milesplit.com. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  8. ^ Zatlin, Garrett (March 2, 2023). "Parker Valby to Medically Scratch Out of NCAA Championships, per FloTrack". The Stride Report.
  9. ^ "Parker Valby Claims 5000m Victory At The NCAA Championship". Citiusmag.com. June 11, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  10. ^ Mack, Gordon (November 19, 2022). "Florida's Parker Valby Breaks Down Her Race Against Katelyn Tuohy". flottack.org. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  11. ^ Johnson, Robert; Gault, Jonathan (June 11, 2023). "NCAA Women's Recap: Parker Valby (5000), Michaela Rose (800) & Olivia Markezich (Steeple) Earn First NCAA Titles". Lets Run. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
  12. ^ "Parker Valby Takes Down Katelyn Tuohy At Nuttycombe as NAU Women Dominate". LetsRun. October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  13. ^ "Florida's Parker Valby Takes First NCAA Cross Country Title". November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  14. ^ Colyear-Danville Women — Valby Takes CR Sub-15:00, Track & Field News, Roy Conrad, December 4, 2023.
  15. ^ Dutch, Taylor (March 8, 2024). "Parker Valby Breaks Her Own Collegiate Record and Wins the NCAA 5,000 Meters". Runners World. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  16. ^ "Parker Valby Breaks NCAA Record (14:52.79) To Destroy the Field and Win NCAA Title #3". Lets Run. March 9, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  17. ^ Johnson, Robert; Gault, Jonathan (March 10, 2024). "2024 NCAA Indoors Women: Maia Ramsden & Parker Valby Dominate as Juliette Whittaker Stuns Michaela Rose". Lets Run. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  18. ^ Morton, Arik (April 12, 2024). "Parker Valby Shatters 10,000 Meter Collegiate Record". Florida Gators. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  19. ^ Hutchison, Katelyn (May 13, 2024). "SEC Track And Field Championships Produce World Leading Times And Olympic Performances". Forbes.com. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  20. ^ "Results". results.usatf.org.
  21. ^ "Florida's Parker Valby earns silver in 10k at US Olympic Trials". Gators Wire. June 30, 2024.
  22. ^ "Running straight to Paris: Florida's Parker Valby grabs spot on Team USA's Olympic roster". Gainesville Sun.
  23. ^ "Women's 10000m Results - Paris Olympic Games 2024 Athletics". Watch Athletics. August 9, 2024. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  24. ^ Six-Time NCAA Champion Parker Valby Signs With New Balance, Runner's World, Sarah Lorge Butler, October 17, 2024.
  25. ^ Johnson, Robert (June 27, 2023). "Q & A With Parker Valby On Her Historic NIL Deal With Nike". Lets Run. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  26. ^ Singh, Vaibhav (June 28, 2023). "NCAA 5000m Champion Parker Valby Becomes the First Female Track and Field Athlete to Sign an NIL Deal With Nike". Essentially Sports. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  27. ^ Parker Valby Wins The Bowerman In 2024], U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, December 19, 2024
  28. ^ "Valby Named 2024 SEC Female Athlete of the Year". Florida Gators.
  29. ^ Collegiate Outdoor Athletes Of The Year — Leo Neugebauer & Parker Valby, Track & Field News, June 15, 2024
  30. ^ Parker Valby, Florida: 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year, USTFCCCA Communications, June 17, 2024
  31. ^ "Parker Valby Voted NCAA Division I National Track Athlete of the Year". Florida Gators. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  32. ^ Florida’s Parker Valby Named Class of 2024 Honda Sport Award Winner for Cross Country, Honda Sports Award, December 8, 2023.
  33. ^ Coaches Tab Parker Valby as 2023 Lance Harter Women’s National Athlete of the Year, Florida Gators, Arik Morton, November 27, 2023.
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