Parker Valby
Personal information
BornPennsylvania[1]
Home townConnecticut
Tampa, Florida
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event5000m
College teamUniversity of Florida
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)3000m: 8:49.71 (Boston University, 2023)
5000m: 14:56.11 (Boston University, 2023)

Parker Valby is an American track and field and cross-country athlete.[2] She is a two-time NCAA champion and the current NCAA record holder for the indoor 5000m.

Early life

From Tampa, 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] Coached by Britt Taylor, 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

Valby Competes 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 in a time of helping Florida finish as team runner-ups.[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]

YearSEC Cross CountryNCAA South Regional Cross CountryNCAA Cross CountrySEC Indoor TrackNCAA Indoor TrackSEC Outdoor TrackNCAA Outdoor Track
2021–224th2nd27th--2nd - 5000m2nd - 5000m
2022–231st1st2nd--1st - 5000m1st - 5000m
2023–241st1st1st

Sponsorship

In June 2023, Valby signed an endorsement agreement with sportswear brand Nike.[15] In doing so, she became the first female college track and field athlete to have a name, image, and likeness agreement with the company.[16]

Honors and Awards

References

  1. ↑ Parker Valby After SMASHING the NCAA 5k Record in 14:56!!! The Stride Report
  2. ↑ "Parker Valby". World Athletics. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Parker Valby". Florida Gators. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  4. ↑ Putnam, Bob (31 October 2018). "Once a reluctant runner, East Lake's Parker Valby now leads the pack". Tampabay.com. Retrieved 5 July 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 5 July 2023.
  7. ↑ Lyden, Adair (April 26, 2020). "Open Letter From HS Coach To FL 3200m State Record Holder". fl.milesplit.com. Retrieved 5 July 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 5 July 2023.
  10. ↑ Mack, Gordon (November 19, 2022). "Florida's Parker Valby Breaks Down Her Race Against Katelyn Tuohy". flottack.org. Retrieved 5 July 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". 2023-11-18. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  14. ↑ Colyear-Danville Women — Valby Takes CR Sub-15:00, Track & Field News, Roy Conrad, December 4, 2023.
  15. ↑ Johnson, Robert (June 27, 2023). "Q & A With Parker Valby On Her Historic NIL Deal With Nike". Lets Run. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  16. ↑ Singh, Vaibhav (28 June 2023). "NCAA 5000m Champion Parker Valby Becomes the First Female Track and Field Athlete to Sign an NIL Deal With Nike". Essentially Sports. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  17. ↑ Florida’s Parker Valby Named Class of 2024 Honda Sport Award Winner for Cross Country, Honda Sports Award, December 8, 2023.
  18. ↑ 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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