In her pre-collegiate career at East Lake High School in Tampa, Parker Valby always thought she would go on to play lacrosse in college. However, her vision changed in her sophomore year when she injured her ankle, leaving her on crutches for two months.
Valby ran cross country for East Lake to stay in shape for when lacrosse season came around, but she never took it too seriously.
However, when she entered her starting lane for the women’s 10,000m race at the Paris 2024 Olympics, it was as serious of a competition as a long-distance runner could ever find themselves in.
“No one really expected me to make the Olympics,” Valby said. “I didn’t think I’d make the Olympics.”
The former Gator is an SEC Female Athlete of the Year, a six-time NCAA champion and the all-time NCAA record holder in the indoor 5,000m, outdoor 5,000m and outdoor 10,000m events.
As Valby recovered from her injury, East Lake track and field head coach Britt Taylor approached her with the idea to join his program.
Upon hearing Taylor’s pitch, she was initially reluctant to put forth a substantial effort into long-distance running.
“No, I’m not running,” Valby said. “Running is our punishment [in lacrosse].”
Despite Valby’s hesitance, her transition from lacrosse to the track was seamless, Taylor said. Without a substantial background in long-distance running, she found herself having more fun with the sport compared to the veteran runners on her team.
However, Valby’s newfound enjoyment of running never infringed upon her willingness to improve.
“I love running with my whole heart,” Valby said. “I enjoy waking up and revolving my entire day around training and being the best athlete I could be.”
After rapidly excelling as a distance runner for East Lake, she was recruited by Chris Solinsky, an American 10,000m record holder and assistant coach for UF’s track and field program.
Throughout her recruiting process, UF track and field coaches emphasized what their historic and illustrious program could offer Valby. Though, by the time she finished her final race for the Gators in the Spring, she drastically exceeded expectations.
“That was the whole reason I came to UF. I didn’t come here because it was a distance school,” Valby said. “I came here because it was a track school, and I wanted to be a part of a bigger track program overall.”
As a Gator, Valby won six SEC championships, was named to 15 All-American honors from the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and eight SEC awards.
“Winning individual national titles, that’s cool and all,” Valby said. “But I had the most fun winning the national title as a team my sophomore year with our track team. We had the dream team.”
Following her junior season at Florida, Valby had the opportunity to take the next step in her career at the world’s biggest stage for an athlete: the Olympics.
Valby ran in the Olympic Trials June 30, where she qualified to run for Team USA in Paris.
At 22 years old, Valby was one of the youngest runners on Team USA at the Olympics.
Valby felt like she wasn’t ready to win a medal yet; instead, she focused more on enjoying her experience and taking in the atmosphere of the stadium.
With her parents and coach Taylor there to support her, she made the most of her time in Paris, both on and off the track.
“I think the experience was super cool,” Valby said. “I was able to go to opening ceremonies, travel around. I just did things a normal tourist would do.”
The attention and expectations that come with the amount of success Valby has achieved would be difficult for anyone to manage. But as uncomfortable as it was in the beginning, Valby learned to embrace it.
“Pressure is a privilege,” Valby said. “You’ve got to learn that people are gonna say things regardless, so just be you and just be yourself, and it's all gonna work out.”
At Olympic Trials, it’s a big deal for a runner to reveal who their footwear sponsor will be.
But Valby, alongside her agent and father Kyle Valby, chose not to announce what shoe company she will be signing a contract with.
“There’s a lot of talk in the running world about where she’s going to sign,” Kyle Valby said.
In 2023, she became the first female track and field athlete to sign a name, image and likeness contract with Nike. However, she hasn’t released her long-term sponsor yet, as she is set to embark on her professional career.
“As her agent,” Kyle Valby said, “I will tell you that good things are in the future, and when you hear the details, it will be a historic deal that Parker enters into.”
Parker Valby is one of the most illustrious long-distance runners in the history of Florida’s track and field program and could be slated as one of the greatest athletes to ever step foot on UF’s campus.
Though, her journey didn’t start without taking a leap of faith at East Lake High School with coach Taylor.
“The only thing I did for her was gradually introduce her to the sport and guide her in the direction of college,” Taylor said.
Nevertheless, her talent displayed on the track throughout her young career proves there’s more to come from Parker Valby.
Contact Rae Weinstein at rweinstein@alligator.org and Max Tucker at mtucker@alligator.org. Follow them on X @raefweinstein and @Max_Tuckr1.
Rae Weinstein is a sophomore majoring in political science. Fall 2024 is her first semester with The Alligator as Cross County Reporter and in her free time she enjoys reading, watching the NY Mets and playing field hockey.
Max Tucker is a junior transfer student at UF. After obtaining his A.A. in Journalism from Santa Fe College in 2023, he chose further his education at Florida's College of Journalism and Communications. Max is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a specialization in sports and media. He enjoys golfing and going to the beach with his friends in his free time.
