Parker Valby

Parker Alys Valby (September 27, 2002) is an American track and field and cross-country athlete. 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 Tampa, Florida, she attended East Lake High School. 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. She became the Florida state champion and the Florida state all-time record holder whilst still a junior. However, she was unable to compete during her senior year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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. 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. The next day she also won the 3000m indoor national championship in a personal record of 8:41.50.

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

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. After finishing in the top three for the 10000m, Valby was selected for the Olympics based on her World Athletics ranking.

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

Honors and awards

 * Roy F. Kramer SEC Female Athlete of the Year, 2024
 * Track & Field News Collegiate Outdoor Athlete Of The Year, 2024
 * USTFCCCA NCAA Division I National Outdoor Women's Runner of the Year, 2024
 * USTFCCCA NCAA Division I National Indoor Women's Runner of the Year, 2024
 * Honda Sports Award: Cross Country, 2024
 * USTFCCCA Lance Harter Collegiate National Athlete of the Year: Cross Country 2023

NCAA titles

 * NCAA Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships
 * 5000 meters: 2023
 * 5000 meters: 2024 (CR)
 * 10000 meters: 2024 (MR)
 * NCAA Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships
 * 3000 meters: 2024
 * 5000 meters: 2024
 * NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championship
 * 6 km XC: 2023