Valby Claims Fifth NCAA Individual Championship, Florida Scores 26 Points on Day Two of NCAA Outdoor Championships
Bryant, Charlton and van Daalen were the other Gators to score during Thursday’s action.
EUGENE, Ore. – On the second day of competition at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the Florida Gators women’s program totaled 26 points led by Parker Valby’s fifth NCAA Individual Championship. Claire Bryant, Anthaya Charlton and Alida van Daalen also contributed points to the Gator total.
One cannot find adjectives to continue to describe Valby’s legendary 2024 season. The Tampa, Florida native crossed the finish line in a meet record time of 31:46.09 while competing in the 10,000m. She became the first Florida Gator in program history to be an individual champion in the event. Of her five National Championships, four have occurred during Track & Field competition which ties her with Niekta Beasley, Anita Howard and Kyra Jefferson for third most in Florida history. From a team perspective, Valby added ten points to the Gators.
The Women’s Long Jump duo of Bryant and Charlton posted 13 points courtesy of their second and fourth-place finishes. Bryant, who has made the NCAA Outdoor Championship all four years of her collegiate career, recorded a season-best jump of 6.74m/22’1.5” and a series that featured four jumps over 6.50m. Her second-place finish resulted in eight points and marked the fourth First Team All-American honor of her career. Charlton, competing in the Long Jump at NCAA Outdoor Championships for the first time, notched five points and a best jump of 6.59m/21’7.5.
Van Daalen topped off the evening by adding three points courtesy of a sixth-place finish in the Shot Put. The sophomore recorded a best throw of 17.52m/57’5.75”. Van Daalen will continue action on Saturday as she is set to compete in the Women’s Discus Throw.
OTHER FINALS NOTABLES
Women’s Shot Put
Gracelyn Leiseth concluded an outstanding freshman season with a 15th-place finish in the Shot Put earning herself Second Team All-American honors. The South Dakota native was able to record UF All-Time Top 10 marks in both the Shot Put and Discus Throw during the 2024 season and set a new personal record in the shot put on five separate occasions.
HOW IT HAPPENED – SEMIFINALS
Women’s 1500m
Flomena Asekol set a personal record for her third consecutive 1500m race while competing in the semifinal round of the event. The senior auto-qualified for the finals behind a third-place finish in her heat and a time of 4:06.85.
1500m Finals: Saturday, 5:41 p.m. ET
Women’s 3000m S
Elise Thorner was the second Gator to earn a bid to Saturday’s finals as she finished fourth overall in the 3000m Steeplechase with a time of 9:49.40.
3000m S Finals: Saturday, 5:54 p.m. ET
Women’s 100m H
Grace Stark notched a spot in Saturday’s 100m hurdles final running a time of 12.52 (+3.4). Stark finished as the top qualifier in the semifinal round.
100m H Finals: Saturday, 6:12 p.m. ET
RESULTS
Thursday, June 6 – Track (Women)
Events
Place. Athlete – Time | Notes
1500m (Semifinal)
3. Flomena Asekol – 4:06.85 | PR, No. 2 in UF History, Advanced to Finals
3000m S (Semifinal)
4. Elise Thorner – 9:49.40 | Advanced to Finals
100m H (Semifinal)
1. Grace Stark – 12.52 (+3.4) | Advanced to Finals
10,000m (Final)
1. Parker Valby – 31:46.09 | NCAA Champion, Meet Record, 10 Points
Thursday, June 6 – Field (Women)
Events
Place. Athlete – Mark | Notes
Long Jump (Final)
2. Claire Bryant – 6.74m/22’1.5” | NCAA Runner-Up, Season Best, 8 Points
4. Anthaya Charlton – 6.59m/21’7.5” | 5 Points
Shot Put (Final)
6. Alida van Daalen – 17.52m/57’5.75” | 3 Points
15. Gracelyn Leiseth – 16.51m/54’2”
UP NEXT
The Florida Gators will continue action at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on June 7 with the men participating in the final day of competition.
NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Location / Venue
Eugene, Oregon / Hayward Field
Date / Time
Wednesday, June 5: 5:00 p.m. ET
Thursday, June 6: 8:45 p.m. ET
Friday, June 7: 8:35 p.m. ET
Saturday, June 8: 5:00 p.m. ET
Meet Schedule
2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Schedule<https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/championships/sports/crosstrack/d1/outdoortf/2023-24D1XTO_ScheduleofEvents.pdf>
Live Results
2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Live Results<https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Outdoor/2024/index.htm>
Updates & Info
@GatorsTF on X<https://twitter.com/GatorsTF>
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Thursday, June 6
WATCH<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=75f3778f-322f-4d94-996a-cdc97a52215b> | Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Friday, June 7
WATCH<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=51725927-1cb6-4fba-9111-97c21c6b0f03> | Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
Saturday, June 8
WATCH<https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=93c201a0-af86-43f1-a0a0-575d57c7c2be> | Time: 5:30 p.m. ET
*All broadcast times and networks are subject to change.
ATHLETE ENTRIES
Friday, June 7 – Track (Men)
Events / Time (ET)
Athlete Entries
4x100m (Final) / 9:02 p.m.
Florida Relay Team
100m (Final) / 9:52 p.m.
Wanya McCoy
400m (Final) / 10:02 p.m.
Reheem Hayles
Jevaughn Powell
200m (Final) / 10:37 p.m.
Robert Gregory
Wanya McCoy
4x400m (Final) / 11:21 p.m.
Florida Relay Team
Friday, June 7 – Field (Men)
Events / Time (ET)
Athlete Entries
Discus Throw (Final) / 8:35 p.m.
Kai Chang
Triple Jump (Final) / 9:20 p.m
Sean Dixon-Bodie
Saturday, June 8 – Track (Women)
Events / Time (ET)
Athlete Entries
1500m (Final) / 5:41 p.m.
Flomena Asekol
3000m Steeplechase (Final) / 5:54 p.m.
Elise Thorner
100m Hurdles (Final) / 6:12 p.m.
Grace Stark
5000m (Final) / 7:25 p.m.
Parker Valby
Saturday, June 8 – Field (Women)
Events / Time (ET)
Athlete Entries
High Jump (Final) / 5:00 p.m. ET
Claire Bryant
Discus Throw (Final) / 5:05 p.m. ET
Alida van Daalen
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