Valby would become the first woman in program history to win collegiate track and field’s highest honor.
ORLANDO – Gator Great Parker Valby is one of three finalists for The Bowerman – collegiate track’s highest individual honor – whose winner will be revealed by the USTFCCCA Thursday, December 19, 2024. The live presentation will begin at 6:20 p.m. ET, and will be available to stream free of charge at Runnerspace.com<https://the-bowerman-presentation.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?event_id=14920&do=videos&video_id=400852-LIVE-Webcast-The-Bowerman-Pre-Show-Presentation-2024>.
In Florida’s program history, two athletes have been awarded track and field’s Heisman-equivalent, with Grant Holloway taking home the trophy in 2019 and Marquis Dendy winning in 2015. Valby would become Florida’s first female recipient of The Bowerman.
Valby is the first female runner in NCAA history to win five NCAA individual national titles in a single academic year (1 XC, 2 Indoor, 2 Outdoor) – and she claimed all in at least meet record times. At the NCAA Indoor Championships, she reset her 5,000m collegiate record to 14:52.79 to win by nearly 17 seconds. Less than 24 hours later, Valby set a meet record of 8:41.50 to win the 3,000m title.
During the outdoor season, Valby shaved 28 seconds off the previous collegiate record to win the 10,000m at the Bryan Clay Invitational, crossing the line in just 30:50.43 on April 12. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships, she set the meet record to win the NCAA Outdoor 10,000m. On the NCAA Championships’ final day, Valby successfully defended her 5,000m title with a collegiate record time (14:52.18). All of her NCAA titles were won by at least a five-second margin.
At the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, Valby finished second in the 10,000m to earn a spot in the Paris Games. She was the only collegiate athlete to participate in the event. In Paris, Valby would finish 11th in the 10,000m.
She was named the USTFCCCA 2023 cross country, 2024 Indoor and Outdoor National Athlete of the Year, while also becoming just the fifth to win both the cross country and track & field Honda Awards in a single academic year. Valby is the 2023 USTFCCCA Women’s Cross Country National Scholar Athlete of the Year and a SEC Academic Honor Roll member. Valby graduated cum laude with her bachelor’s degree in Sports Management in May.
The six-time SEC Champion and nine-time USTFCCCA All-American won all 14 races she competed in during the 2023-24 season, and actively holds two collegiate records (outdoor 5,000m, outdoor 10,000m).
2024 The Bowerman Finalists
Maia Ramsden | Harvard
Jaida Ross | Oregon
Parker Valby | Florida
Florida Finalists for The Bowerman
Christian Taylor, 2011
Tony McQuay, 2012
Marquis Dendy, 2015*
Grant Holloway, 2018 & 2019*
Yanis David, 2019
Anna Hall, 2022
Jasmine Moore, 2023
Parker Valby, 2024
*- Indicates winner
The Valby File: 2023-24
* 5 NCAA Individual Titles in 2023-24 season (first female runner in history to win 5 NCAA individual titles in one season)
* 5000m (Outdoor)
* 10000m (Outdoor)
* 5000m (Indoor)
* 3000m (indoor)
* Cross Country – not factored into The Bowerman voting
* 4 SEC Individual Championships
* 5000m (Outdoor)
* 3000m (Indoor)
* DMR (Indoor)
* Cross Country – not factored into The Bowerman voting
* Honda Sport Award winner for both Cross Country AND Track & Field, 5th woman in history to win both
* SEC Female Athlete of the Year
* USTFCCCA Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year
* 4 Florida Program Records
* Outdoor 5000m: 14:52.18*
* Indoor 5000m: 14:52.79**
* Outdoor 10000m: 30:50.43*
* Indoor 3000m: 8:41.50
* 2024 Olympian – Team USA, 11th place at Olympic 10000m
* Only 2024 collegiate athlete to participate in the event
*Collegiate record
**set collegiate record, current No. 2
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