Parker Valby

About Parker Valby

Parker Valby is a professional American runner, currently competing for New Balance. She runs track and field and cross-country events. She is a six-time NCAA champion and the NCAA record holder for the both the outdoor 5000 m and 10,000 m, and ran the 10,000 m representing the United States in the Paris Olympics, finishing 11th.

Born in Pennsylvania and raised in East Lake, Florida, she graduated from 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.

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.

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 in a time of helping Florida finish as team runner-ups.

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.

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.