Parker Valby

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Parker Valby

| full_name = Parker Alys Valby

| image = Day 9 at the 2024 United States Olympic Trials (track and field) 153 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Valby in 2024

| nationality =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|09|27}}

| birth_place = Pennsylvania[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMrUuAjWNQo Parker Valby After SMASHING the NCAA 5k Record in 14:56!!!] The Stride Report

| hometown = Tampa, Florida

| employer = New Balance

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)

| weight =

| sport = Athleticshttps://floridagators.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/parker-valby/16542

| event = 3000m, 5000m, 10000m

| collegeteam = University of Florida

| team = New Balance Boston

| coach = Mark Coogan

| turnedpro = October 17, 2024

| pb = 3000m: 8:34.95 {{AthAbbr|i}} (New York City, 2025)
5000m: 14:51.44 (Eugene, Oregon, 2024)
10000m: 30:50.43 (Azusa, 2024)|

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's athletics}}

{{MedalCountry|the {{USA}}}}

File:NCAA logo.svg

{{MedalCompetition | NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships }}

{{MedalCompetition | NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships }}

}}

Parker Alys Valby (born September 27, 2002) is a professional American track and field and cross-country athlete.{{cite web |url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/parker-valby-14903214 |title=Parker Valby |website=World Athletics |accessdate=June 11, 2023}} She is a six-time NCAA champion and the current NCAA record holder for the indoor 5000m, outdoor 5000m, and outdoor 10000m.

Early life

From East Lake, Pinellas County, Florida, she attended East Lake High School.{{cite web |url=https://floridagators.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/parker-valby/15724 |title=Parker Valby |accessdate=July 5, 2023 |website=Florida Gators}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/high-schools/2018/10/31/once-a-reluctant-runner-east-lakes-parker-valby-now-leads-the-pack/ |website=Tampabay.com |accessdate=July 5, 2023 |title=Once a reluctant runner, East Lake's Parker Valby now leads the pack |first=Bob |last=Putnam |date=October 31, 2018}} She became the Florida state champion and the Florida state all-time record holder whilst still a junior.{{cite web |url=https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/sports/2019/10/16/parker-valby-went-from-inexperienced-runner-to-state-champ- |title=Parker Valby Went from Inexperienced Runner to State Champ |date=October 16, 2019 |accessdate=July 5, 2023 |website=baynews9.com}}{{cite web |url=https://www.runnerspace.com/news.php?news_id=574391 |website=Runnerspace.com |accessdate=July 5, 2023 |first=Todd |last=Grasley |title=Parker Valby Runs State Record Girls 3,200m - Florida State Meet Recap 2019}} However, she was unable

to compete during her senior year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |url=https://fl.milesplit.com/articles/279299/open-letter-from-hs-coach-to-fl-3200m-state-record-holder |website=fl.milesplit.com |accessdate=July 5, 2023 |title=Open Letter From HS Coach To FL 3200m State Record Holder |first=Adair |last=Lyden |date=April 26, 2020}}

Collegiate career

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestridereport.com/post/confirmed-parker-valby-to-medically-scratch-out-of-ncaa-championships-per-flotrack |first=Garrett |last=Zatlin |website=The Stride Report |date=March 2, 2023 |title=Parker Valby to Medically Scratch Out of NCAA Championships, per FloTrack}}{{cite web |url=https://citiusmag.com/articles/parker-valby-wins-ncaa-5000m |title=Parker Valby Claims 5000m Victory At The NCAA Championship |date=June 11, 2023 |accessdate=July 5, 2023 |website=Citiusmag.com}}

The following fall, Valby once again finished runner-up to Tuohy but this time at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Oklahoma.{{cite web |url=https://www.flotrack.org/video/9005530-floridas-parker-valby-breaks-down-her-race-against-katelyn-tuohy |website=flottack.org |accessdate=July 5, 2023 |title=Florida's Parker Valby Breaks Down Her Race Against Katelyn Tuohy |date=November 19, 2022 |first=Gordon |last=Mack}} That spring, she won the 5000m at the 2023 NCAA Track and Field Championships helping Florida finish as team runner-up.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Robert |last2=Gault |first2=Jonathan |date=June 11, 2023 |title=NCAA Women's Recap: Parker Valby (5000), Michaela Rose (800) & Olivia Markezich (Steeple) Earn First NCAA Titles |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2023/06/ncaa-womens-recap-parker-valby-5000-michaela-rose-800-olivia-markezich-steeple-earn-first-ncaa-titles/ |accessdate=June 11, 2023 |website=Lets Run}}

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.{{Cite web |date=October 13, 2023 |title=Parker Valby Takes Down Katelyn Tuohy At Nuttycombe as NAU Women Dominate |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2023/10/parker-valby-takes-down-katelyn-tuohy-at-nuttycombe-as-nau-women-dominate/ |access-date=October 13, 2023 |website=LetsRun}}

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.{{Cite web |date=November 18, 2023 |title=Florida's Parker Valby Takes First NCAA Cross Country Title |url=https://marathonhandbook.com/ncaa-womens-xc/ |access-date=November 29, 2023 |language=en-US}}

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.[https://trackandfieldnews.com/colyear-danville-women-valby-sub-15-collegiate-record/ Colyear-Danville Women — Valby Takes CR Sub-15:00], Track & Field News, Roy Conrad, December 4, 2023.

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a60144731/parker-valby-ncaa-5k-collegiate-record-2024/ |website=Runners World |accessdate=March 9, 2024 |title=Parker Valby Breaks Her Own Collegiate Record and Wins the NCAA 5,000 Meters |first=Taylor |last=Dutch |date=March 8, 2024}} 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.{{cite web |website=Lets Run |accessdate=March 9, 2024 |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2024/03/parker-valby-breaks-ncaa-record-1452-79-to-destroy-the-field-and-win-ncaa-title-3/ |title=Parker Valby Breaks NCAA Record (14:52.79) To Destroy the Field and Win NCAA Title #3 |date=March 9, 2024}} The next day she also won the 3000m indoor national championship in a personal record of 8:41.50.{{cite web |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2024/03/2024-ncaa-indoor-women-maia-ramsden-parker-valby-dominate-as-juliette-whittaker-stuns-michaela-rose/ |website=Lets Run |accessdate=March 10, 2024 |title=2024 NCAA Indoors Women: Maia Ramsden & Parker Valby Dominate as Juliette Whittaker Stuns Michaela Rose |first1=Robert |last1=Johnson |first2=Jonathan |last2=Gault |date=March 10, 2024}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://floridagators.com/news/2024/4/12/track-and-field-parker-valby-shatters-10-000-meter-collegiate-record.aspx |website=Florida Gators |accessdate=April 12, 2024 |date=April 12, 2024 |title=Parker Valby Shatters 10,000 Meter Collegiate Record |first=Arik |last=Morton}} Valby set a new championship record winning the 5000 metres at the SEC Championship in Gainesville, Florida on May 11, 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/katelynhutchison/2024/05/13/sec-track-and-field-championships-produce-world-leading-times-and-olympic-performances/# |website=Forbes.com |accessdate=May 13, 2024 |title=SEC Track And Field Championships Produce World Leading Times And Olympic Performances |date=May 13, 2024 |first=Katelyn |last=Hutchison}}

Year	SEC Cross Country	NCAA South Regional Cross Country	NCAA Cross Country	SEC Indoor Track	NCAA Indoor Track	SEC Outdoor Track	NCAA Outdoor Track
class="wikitable sortable"
2021–22	4th	bgcolor=silver\|2nd	27th	-	-	bgcolor=silver\|2nd - 5000m	bgcolor=silver\|2nd - 5000m
2022–23	bgcolor=gold\|1st	bgcolor=gold\|1st	bgcolor=silver\|2nd	-	-	bgcolor=gold\|1st - 5000m	bgcolor=gold\|1st - 5000m
2023–24	bgcolor=gold\|1st	bgcolor=gold\|1st	bgcolor=gold\|1st	bgcolor=gold\|1st - 3000m; 1st DMR	bgcolor=gold\|1st - 5000m; 1st - 3000m	bgcolor=gold\|1st - 5000m	bgcolor=gold\|1st - 10000m; 1st - 5000m

Professional career

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.{{cite web |title=Results |url=https://results.usatf.org/2024trials/ |website=results.usatf.org}} After finishing in the top three for the 10000m, Valby was selected for the Olympics based on her World Athletics ranking.{{cite web |title=Florida's Parker Valby earns silver in 10k at US Olympic Trials |url=https://gatorswire.usatoday.com/2024/06/30/florida-track-field-parker-valby-paris-olympic-team/ |website=Gators Wire |date=June 30, 2024}}{{cite web |title=Running straight to Paris: Florida's Parker Valby grabs spot on Team USA's Olympic roster |url=https://www.gainesville.com/story/sports/college/2024/07/06/florida-track-and-fields-parker-valby-2024-paris-olympics-team-usa-10000-meter-mike-holloway-gators/74318589007/ |website=Gainesville Sun}} 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.{{cite web|url= https://www.watchathletics.com/page/5865/women-s-10000m-results-paris-olympic-games-2024-athletics |website=Watch Athletics|accessdate=8 September 2024|date=9 August 2024|title= Women's 10000m Results - Paris Olympic Games 2024 Athletics

}}

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.[https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a62548221/parker-valby-signs-with-new-balance/ Six-Time NCAA Champion Parker Valby Signs With New Balance], Runner's World, Sarah Lorge Butler, October 17, 2024.

Sponsorship

In June 2023, Valby signed an endorsement agreement with sportswear brand Nike.{{cite web |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2023/06/qa-with-parker-valby-on-her-historic-nil-deal-with-nike/ |website=Lets Run |accessdate=July 5, 2023 |title=Q & A With Parker Valby On Her Historic NIL Deal With Nike |first=Robert |last=Johnson |date=June 27, 2023}} In doing so, she became the first female college track and field athlete to have a name, image, and likeness agreement with this brand.{{cite web |url=https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-olympics-news-track-and-field-news-ncaa-five-thousand-meters-champion-parker-valby-becomes-the-first-female-track-and-field-athlete-to-sign-an-nil-deal-with-nike/ |website=Essentially Sports |accessdate=July 5, 2023 |title=NCAA 5000m Champion Parker Valby Becomes the First Female Track and Field Athlete to Sign an NIL Deal With Nike |first=Vaibhav |last=Singh |date=June 28, 2023}}

Honors and awards

The Bowerman, 2024[https://www.ustfccca.org/2024/12/featured/parker-valby-wins-the-bowerman-in-2024 Parker Valby Wins The Bowerman In 2024], U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, December 19, 2024
Roy F. Kramer SEC Female Athlete of the Year, 2024{{Cite web |url=https://floridagators.com/news/2024/7/9/cross-country-valby-named-2024-sec-female-athlete-of-the-year.aspx |title=Valby Named 2024 SEC Female Athlete of the Year |website=Florida Gators}}
Track & Field News Collegiate Outdoor Athlete Of The Year, 2024[https://trackandfieldnews.com/collegiate-outdoor-aoys-leo-neugebauer-parker-valby/ Collegiate Outdoor Athletes Of The Year — Leo Neugebauer & Parker Valby], Track & Field News, June 15, 2024
USTFCCCA NCAA Division I National Outdoor Women's Runner of the Year, 2024[https://www.ustfccca.org/awards/parker-valby-florida-2024-ncaa-division-i-womens-outdoor-track-field-national-track-athlete-of-the-year Parker Valby, Florida: 2024 NCAA Division I Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year], USTFCCCA Communications, June 17, 2024
USTFCCCA NCAA Division I National Indoor Women's Runner of the Year, 2024{{Cite web |title=Parker Valby Voted NCAA Division I National Track Athlete of the Year |url=https://floridagators.com/news/2024/3/18/track-and-field-parker-valby-voted-ncaa-division-i-national-track-athlete-of-the-year.aspx |access-date=June 16, 2024 |website=Florida Gators |language=en}}
Honda Sports Award: Cross Country, 2024[https://www.collegiatewomensportsawards.com/releases/2023-24/D1XCValby Florida’s Parker Valby Named Class of 2024 Honda Sport Award Winner for Cross Country], Honda Sports Award, December 8, 2023.
USTFCCCA Lance Harter Collegiate National Athlete of the Year: Cross Country 2023[https://floridagators.com/news/2023/11/27/cross-country-coaches-tab-parker-valby-2023-lance-harter-womens-national-athlete-of-the-year.aspx Coaches Tab Parker Valby as 2023 Lance Harter Women’s National Athlete of the Year], Florida Gators, Arik Morton, November 27, 2023.