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Florida Gator runner Parker Valby takes 2nd in 10K at USA trials, awaits Olympic fate

After finishing in 4th in the 5K, Parker Valby took 2nd in the 10K but is not automatically guaranteed a spot at the Olympics

By Benjamin Henderson

Jun 29, 2024; Eugene, OR, USA; Medalists in the women’s 10,000 meters. Weini Kelati gold (center), Parker Valby silver (left) and Karissa Schweizer (right) at the US Olympic Track and Field Team Trials. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 29, 2024; Eugene, OR, USA; Medalists in the women’s 10,000 meters. Weini Kelati gold (center), Parker Valby silver (left) and Karissa Schweizer (right) at the US Olympic Track and Field Team Trials. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports / Craig Strobeck-USA TODAY Sports
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All season long, Florida Gator distance star Parker Valby rarely seemed challenged on the NCAA circuit. She racked up five national titles during the 2023/24 academic year and leaves Florida as the most decorated distance runner the Gators have ever had on the women's side.

In her final race wearing a Gator uniform, Valby proved her dominance on the college scene also translated to the professional scene as she took 2nd in the 10K at the US Olympic Trials.

Whether or not she is going to get a ticket to Paris gets a little more complicated.

Florida Gators: Going The Distance

Valby took 2nd at the trials in the 10K with a time of 31:41. For the first 7K of the race, she was content to hang around with the leaders before throwing a surge down to break the race wide open. The race came down to one final kick and was ultimately won by Weini Kelati.

For most events at the Olympic Trials, the top three finishers make the Olympics and there is no mystery. But the reason for that is because often times all three of the top finishers have the Olympic standard for the event, the minimum time an athlete needs to have hit to be automatically eligible.

The 2024 standard in the women's 10K is 30:40 and Valby's best time is 30:50.

She might still make it to Paris, but it gets complicated. As Chris Chavez of Citius Mag spells out, Valby will have to wait for the World Rankings to shake out, which won't be finalized for another week.

Valby also could still make it to Paris in 5K, where she does have the Olympic standard but finished 4th earlier in the week at the trials. A couple of the athletes who finished ahead of Valby, Elle St. Pierre and Elise Cranny, are running in the 1500 meter finals today and if they make the teams in that event they could opt to drop out of the 5K for Paris, giving the spot to Valby.

No matter what happens, many view Valby as a rising star in the sport who should only get better and better as she begins to get professional and international experience.

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