This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Chris joined FloridaGators.com in 2011 after nearly three decades as a sports reporter at newspapers in Tampa and Orlando, including 10 years covering the UF athletic program and another 10 covering the NFL. Scott has been a senior writer for the Florida Gators since 2010. Catching Up With Parker Valby | Goals For Her First Year Running Professionally With Team New Balance BostonCatching Up With Parker Valby | Goals For Her First Year Running Professionally With Team New Balance BostonThe CITIUS MAG PodcastFebruary 11, 2025 Apple PodcastsSpotifyParker ValbyTeam New Balance Boston...Share "Once I made the Olympic team it was kind of like a weight was lifted off my shoulders My guest for today's episode is Parker Valby becoming the first woman in history to win 5 individual NCAA titles in a single academic year It earned her the prestigious Bowerman Award Her undefeated season included a record-breaking performance at every championship level from cross country to indoor to outdoor She shattered the collegiate 10,000m record by 28 seconds ran a historic 14:52 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and capped it all off with a runner-up finish at the U.S Olympic Trials to qualify for her first Olympic team Now she's taking her talents to the professional stage with Team New Balance Boston under the guidance of Mark Coogan She's navigating a new training environment with tougher competition and adjusting to that shift from being so dominant in the NCAA to now trying to contend on the global stage we talk about her transition to the pro ranks her unique training approach that still prioritizes cross training and what she hopes to achieve in her first season as a pro We also get into her Olympic experience and recap her professional debut at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix where she ran 8:34 for a personal best and third place finish against a very strong women's 3000m field Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram Guest: Parker Valby | @parkervalby on Instagram The following excerpt has been edited lightly for clarity. You can listen to the full episode with Parker Valby on the CITIUS MAG Podcast Team dynamic with Team New Balance Boston: That's the beauty of our team: there's always someone to work out with and everyone has different strengths Obviously there's a lot of 1500m strength on our team so I hold on for dear life on the speed part of workouts I’m probably doing more because I'm more endurance-based Why she decided to join Team New Balance Boston: Someone actually just talked to me about this ‘Can you tell me what made you choose this team?’.. The first time I talked to Mark [Coogan] was when we were in Belgium I was still just focused on running the Olympics He was at the track when we were at the track and that day my coach wasn't there… Mark was like don't overrun your workout!’ I was running a little bit too fast That was probably the first interaction I've ever had with him He supports my goals and is willing to help me get there so that’s ultimately why I made the decision Reflections on her 11th place finish in the Olympic 10,000m: I wouldn't say I was disappointed in myself Obviously you don’t want to go to the Olympics and get 11th place That was a really good starting point and hopefully it's only up from here That just fuels the fire for the next three and a half years until the next Olympics but I feel like there was a lot less pressure on me for the Olympics than any NCAA race How cross training continues to fit into her training plan: Mark has been very good with keeping what I've been doing the same – don't change what's not broken So I still cross train five out of seven days of the week but I think in Flagstaff I was close to 50 [miles] one week… I don't monitor my heart rate while running – it's really just when I'm cross training because you don't want to be going too easy You want to keep it above a certain heart rate… I'm sure my body could handle [running more mileage] I can get my heart rate higher with arc-training than I can running I think that my body is so used to it at this point in my career because I've been doing it for so long that I think I'm going to keep it as a staple in my training forever What her goals were heading into her pro debut at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix where she raced the 3000m: My goal was really just to go out there and compete I basically was just thrown into the deep end to see if I could swim I placed in the top three and ran a seven-second PR I definitely could have done a few things better I just want to continue to improve every year leading up to the L.A Obviously my big goal is making the World Championships this year and performing my best Listen to the full episode here. SPOKANE SPORTS COMMISSION: In Spokane, Washington, there’s Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and now, Fast.. Fifth Season is hosting elite indoor track and field events all throughout January and February. All events take place at the Podium Powered by STCU, SPOCAN’s state-of-the-art indoor track facility. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more at SpokaneSports.com/FifthSeason⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Chris Chavez launched CITIUS MAG in 2016 as a passion project while working full-time for Sports Illustrated. He covered the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and grew his humble blog into a multi-pronged media company. He completed all six World Marathon Majors and on Feb. 15th, 2025 finally broke five minutes for the mile. Related Episodes Florida's Parker Valby After Winning The 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships Diljeet Taylor Announces She Is Now A Nike Coach | Introducing Swoosh TC – Learn About Her Pro Group In Utah UNC’s Ethan Strand After Running 7:30.15 To Break NCAA 3000m Record Mark Coogan On Coaching Elle St. Pierre To Gold, Emily Mackay To Bronze At World Indoors Florida's Parker Valby After Winning The 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships was born of ex-journalists, ex-pros, and superfans who came together to geek out on running. By spotlighting athletes and their stories, we’re on a mission to modernize track and field media coverage and give fans a home to engage with their favorite sport. Track and field news straight to your inbox Design By Butter Studio Code By Buena Suerte Redshirt junior Parker Valby runs during the NCAA South Regional on Friday 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 her vision changed in her sophomore year when she injured her ankle Valby ran cross country for East Lake to stay in shape for when lacrosse season came around 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 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 East Lake track and field head coach Britt Taylor approached her with the idea to join his program she was initially reluctant to put forth a substantial effort into long-distance running “Running is our punishment [in lacrosse].” her transition from lacrosse to the track was seamless 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.  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 an American 10,000m record holder and assistant coach for UF’s track and field program UF track and field coaches emphasized what their historic and illustrious program could offer Valby by the time she finished her final race for the Gators in the Spring 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.” was named to 15 All-American honors from the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and eight SEC awards “But I had the most fun winning the national title as a team my sophomore year with our track team Valby had the opportunity to take the next step in her career at the world’s biggest stage for an athlete: the Olympics where she qualified to run for Team USA in Paris.  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 “I think the experience was super cool,” Valby said 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 “You’ve got to learn that people are gonna say things regardless it’s a big deal for a runner to reveal who their footwear sponsor will be 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 she became the first female track and field athlete to sign a name she hasn’t released her long-term sponsor yet as she is set to embark on her professional career.  “I will tell you that good things are in the future 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.  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 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 senior transfer student at UF in Journalism from Santa Fe College in 2023 he chose to 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 The 2025 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix is slated for Sunday the meet has something special in store with some of the best athletes in the world set to descend on Beantown for the meeting Noah Lyles and Emma Coburn will headline the action throughout the day but there are a few that we've zeroed in on The two former-NCAA stars will make their professional debuts at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on Sunday the two young talents signed professional contracts with New Balance -- and the parallels don't stop there Blanks under Harvard coach Alex Gibby and Valby under New Balance Boston coach Mark Coogan They both graduated high school in 2020 and were both standouts in the Southeast with Blanks in Georgia and Valby in Florida Their schools were less than 500 miles away they both rose to stardom and became household names for those familiar with American distance running They collected collegiate records and NCAA Championships like trading cards Olympic Trials en route to earning spots on Team USA On the Olympic stage they shined and both made the Olympic final they aren't just the future of American distance running -- they are American distance running.  Blanks is scheduled to run the 1,500m on Sunday he ran the second fastest time in NCAA 5k history and will be in contention despite the star-studded field The quality of field is reminiscent of a championship final When Emma Coburn broke her ankle at the 2024 Diamond League meeting in Shanghai She fractured her medial malleolus with a water-pit misstep some questioned whether it would also mark the end of her on-track career Some speculated that she may move to road-running or hang the spikes up altogether Coburn posted a 4:33.29 mile at the Potts Invitational in Boulder The now-34-year-old also welcomed a child in October but there doesn't seem to be much that Coburn can't handle The New Balance Grand Prix will be another prove-it opportunity the veteran who has little left to prove in the professional world The 2024 Olympic 100m gold medalist will take on the 2021 Olympic 100m gold medalist in the Ralph Mann Memorial Men's 60m The two men in question are Noah Lyles and Marcell Jacobs He had a down year in 2024 and finished fifth in the 100m Olympic final He took home the 100m gold and ran a personal best 9.79 at the Olympic Games He recently opened his season at the RADD Invitational Some other notable names to watch include Trayvon Bromell (USA) Zharnel Hughes (GBR) and Udodi Onwuzurike (NGR) Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription Follow us on Twitter @FloTrack Follow us on Instagram @flotrack Like us on Facebook Get the most important Track & Field stories delivered straight to your inbox With just 12 days left in 2024, Parker Valby added one more accolade to her record-breaking season The Gators Track and Field star won the Bowerman Award on Thursday night in Orlando. The Bowerman is collegiate track and field's highest honor, and Valby becomes UF's first female winner joining Marquis Dendy (2015) and Grant Holloway (2019) This makes UF the fourth program in the country with three or more winners Valby is more than deserving of the elusive honor The Tampa-area native become the first female runner to win five national championships in one season which isn't taken into account for the Bowerman Award two indoor track titles (3000m and 5000m) and two outdoor track titles (5000m and 10000m) At the NCAA outdoor championships in June, Valby set a meet record in the 10,000-meter and a collegiate record in the 5,000-meter (14:52.18) Three weeks later, at the same track in Eugene, Oregon, Valby finished second at U.S qualifying her for the 2024 Paris Olympics where she was the lone collegiate athlete in the field Valby was the SEC Female Athlete of the Year and just the fifth woman to win the Honda Award in Cross Country and Track and Field Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on X/Twitter Already a subscriber? Log In Even when it seems like things aren't going great a well-timed kick can sometimes save the race At the 2024 Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener records were on the line in every distance race but one of the hardest marks to approach would be Parker Valby's 14:52.79 indoor collegiate record Performed at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships Valby's solo run for the title was so impressive that most thought a new generation of talent would be needed to tackle it the record was in reach of Valby's contemporaries all along -- they just needed the perfect race The 5K was the most stacked race of the evening including most of the top 10 finishers from the NCAA Cross Country Championships just weeks ago the early splits were stead 36-second laps en route to a 4:50.80 1600m so at some point someone was going to have to ratchet it down the cream rose to the top: NCAA XC champ Doris Lemngole and Nike pro Emily Venters separated themselves from the field with Venters taking over for some of the leading after Chamberlain dropped before 3K The 3K split of 9:05.20 was a full seven seconds off the prescribed 8:58 pacing split which would have put the runners on track for 14:56 Someone needed to right this ship for a sub-15 It was Olemomoi and Lemngole who made the winning break Sub-15 was real now and perhaps Valby's record could be in reach With a scorching final 200m of 30.66 seconds Olemomoi and Lemngole battled to the very end but it was an NCAA repeat for Lemngole and Kosgei and Bunnage both barely missed the 15-minute barrier in 3rd and 4th respectively The performance was particularly meaningful for Lemngole who ran 14:40 in a road 5K before joining Alabama but hadn't been able to approach that mark since but Valby can still take solace in knowing that her 14:52.18 from the NCAA Outdoor Championships is still the fastest all-conditions in-season mark Adva Cohen (Under Armour Dark Sky Distance) Angelina Ellis (Under Armour Dark Sky Distance) The 2024 BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener begins at 10:25 a.m STREAMING: Watch the 2024 Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener on FloTrack. SIGN UP HERE. Cast: Cast to your smart TV including Vizio On The Go: Download the FloSports app on iOS or Android Like us on Facebook. Get the most important Track & Field stories delivered straight to your inbox. ©2006 - Present FloSports, Inc. All rights reserved. Redshirt junior Parker Valby runs during the NCAA South Regional on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. Former Florida track and field runner Parker Valby won The Bowerman, the highest individual honor in collegiate track and field, Thursday night in Orlando. Valby’s 2024 season was one for the history books. The 22-year-old Tampa native set three NCAA records this spring (two of which remain standing) on her way to winning four national titles. Including her win at the NCAA Cross Country Championships from November 2023, which was not taken into consideration for The Bowerman, she was the first female runner in collegiate history to win five individual national titles in one academic year. In her first race of the 2024 outdoor track and field season, Valby broke the previous record in the 10,000m by 28 seconds, completing 25 laps in 30:50.43. At the NCAA Outdoor Championships, she won the 5,000m with a time of 14:52.18, a new outdoor collegiate record, and completed the season sweep of NCAA women’s track and field long-distance titles with her victory in the 10,000m.  While races outside of the NCAA season are not considered for The Bowerman, Valby found plenty of success beyond the collegiate stage as well. A second-place finish in the 10,000m at the U.S. Olympic Trials secured her spot on Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she would go on to finish 11th in the women’s 10,000m.  Valby beat out Oregon shot putter Jaida Ross and Harvard mid-distance star Maia Ramsden to claim The Bowerman. Texas decathlete Leo Neugebauer won the award on the men’s side. She joins Marquis Dendy (2015) and Grant Holloway (2019) as the only Gators to have won The Bowerman. UF is now tied with LSU, Texas A&M and Texas for the second-most winners of The Bowerman in NCAA history.   Having signed with New Balance and now training in Boston, Valby will make her professional debut on Feb. 2 at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston. Contact Paul Hof-Mahoney at paulhofmahoney@ufl.edu. Follow him on X at @phofmahoney Paul is a junior sports journalism major who is covering the track and field beat in his first semester with the Alligator. In his free time, he enjoys watching commentary Youtube channels and consuming every medium of track and field content imaginable. U.S who in June wrapped up a historic career at the University of Florida that included six NCAA titles has signed a professional contract with New Balance She will be training under coach Mark Coogan as a member of Team New Balance Boston “I am excited to join the New Balance family and train in Boston with such an incredible group of runners Family is very important to me and it was very clear that New Balance was the brand for me and I can’t wait to get started,” Valby said in a statement “Boston already feels like home and I am honored to start my professional career with a brand that wants to support my dreams on and off the track.” – Valby is coming off a 2023-2024 season in which she became the first female distance runner to win five national titles in the same academic year She won the 2024 NCAA Cross Country individual race and the NCAA outdoor 5000m and 10,000m titles She went undefeated in 14 collegiate races this outdoor season and is a finalist for the prestigious Bowerman Award Her NCAA titles came in dominant fashion Here is the margin of victory between Valby and the NCAA Championship runner-up: – She set two NCAA records this outdoor season running 14:52.18 for 5000m and 30:50.43 in the 10,000m – and is the first collegiate woman to break 15:00 and 31:00 – In addition to her accolades on the track, Valby has drawn attention for her unconventional training methods, which consisted of approximately 30-35 miles per week of running plus a heavy load of cross-training, primarily on the Arc-Trainer. She discussed her training in detail as a guest on the CITIUS MAG Podcast last fall – Valby signed an NIL deal with Nike in June 2023 which also ran for a few months after her collegiate season ended Many of the top track and field athletes who signed NIL deals with major sportswear brands during college have gone on to sign with the same company as professionals allow the NCAA athletes to familiarize themselves with brands test out products and build a relationship with the companies before signing a professional deal Valby is the first major star to break from the brand that supported her as an NCAA star Valby has decided to join Team New Balance Boston Pierre and Emily MacKay qualify for the 2024 U.S Pierre finished eighth in the Olympic final Both women also earned medals at the 2024 World Indoor Championships Coogan has coached another past NCAA cross country and track champion who went on to sign with New Balance who turned professional in 2014 and qualified for the 2016 Olympic team – Valby just missed out on making the U.S. Olympic team in the 5000m with a fourth place finish (14:51.44) but nabbed second in the 10,000m at the U.S. Olympic Trials in 31:41.56. St. Pierre also qualified for the Olympic team in the 5000m, but opted not to run that event, allowing Valby to potentially double, but the Gator star decided to focus her efforts on the 10,000 meters – At the Paris Olympics, Valby briefly found herself at the front of the pack during the 10,000m final but finished 11th overall. She told us after the race: “I’m kind of cooked It was a good learning experience and I’m super grateful to be here and honestly just be able to finish ‘I don’t think I’m going to be able to even break 32.’ I was so unconfident in my abilities at this point If there were a track and field draft that mirrored the NBA and NFL Valby and Young would have been the top two distance picks by any shoe brand Young signed with Adidas shortly after the NCAA Outdoor Championships and qualified for the Paris Olympics in their pro kit But if you were one of Valby’s 178K Instagram or 97K TikTok followers you may have been waiting on pins and needles for her official pro signing post or a new kit to show up on the starting line of the Trials she was fairly tight-lipped about who she was signing with and when an announcement would come which included discussions with various brands in the months following the 2024 NCAA Championships Despite being tied to Nike for much of the last two years of her college career brands saw her value and potential enough to make offers qualifying for the Olympics and then finishing 11th in the world – all while also delivering memorable on-camera moments – aided in her market value Sports marketing executives at some of the major brands have started including clauses into NIL contracts that would allow for the sponsoring brand to get the right of first refusal or the ability to match offers from other brands to retain the athlete as a professional Valby has not disclosed details of her NIL deal but one can presume a possible Nike match clause was the hangup until it expired or she was granted a release So now that the ink on the contract has dried and she’s moving to Boston the next big question is for Coogan: how to adapt and evolve Valby’s famously low-mileage training heavy on cross-training to both keep her healthy and make her successful as a professional there are going to be a lot of eyeballs watching as Valby adapts to a system that made St You May Also Like Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Chris joined FloridaGators.com in 2011 after nearly three decades as a sports reporter at newspapers in Tampa and Orlando including 10 years covering the UF athletic program and another 10 covering the NFL Scott has been a senior writer for the Florida Gators since 2010 The "World's Fastest 10,000m" is returning to San Juan Capistrano and meet organizers have announced the entries for the elite 10k fields On the women's side Weini Kelati and Elise Cranny highlight a stacked list of entries Among the top entrants in the men's field include Drew Hunter The Ten holds a strong reputation for producing elite 10,000m performance with over a dozen national records having been set at the event throughout its history Grant Fisher ran 26:33.84 to narrowly beat Moh Ahmed scoring the American record while Ahmed notched the Canadian record as well as and the first sub-30-minute 10,000m performance by a woman on U.S In 2025, The Ten continues to expand by adding a full day session of high school races, presented by HOKA. All races will be streamed LIVE on FloTrack. STREAMING: Watch the 2025 The TEN on FloTrack. SIGN UP HERE. Office Hours: Florida Coach Will Palmer On His Approach To Coaching, Reflections From Working With Parker Valby, Developing TalentOffice Hours: Florida Coach Will Palmer On His Approach To Coaching, Reflections From Working With Parker Valby, Developing TalentThe CITIUS MAG PodcastMarch 20, 2025 Apple PodcastsSpotifyWill PalmerCitius Mag Podcast...Share "The really great athletes – they all have a superpower [It’s about] what makes them uniquely excellent and helping them understand what their superpower is and how they wave that sword around." Will Palmer has overseen quite a bit of success for the Florida Gators distance program as the associate head coach for cross country and assistant track and field coach Palmer led the Gators’ women to their highest national ranking since 2009 and a second place finish at the NCAA East Regionals he and his wife Samantha were the coaches behind Parker Valby's record-breaking dominance helping the women's team to an SEC title and a podium finish at the NCAA Championships in 2022 His coaching career also includes stops at Georgetown shaping some of the best distance programs in the country So today we dive into the vision behind Florida's rise in cross country what made Parker Valby's training and mindset so unique to be part of and what he's building in Gainesville – plus lessons from a career spent developing talent and much more Guest: Will Palmer | @willpalmxc on Instagram The following excerpt has been edited lightly for clarity. You can listen to the full episode with Will Palmer on the CITIUS MAG Podcast. Building off the men’s team title from the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships: There's not a lot of day-to-day discussion of ‘This is where we're going to score our points.’ I remember being at NCAA Outdoors in Austin – my first NCAA Outdoors [coaching] at Florida…We only had Parker running there so I was a spectator for the whole men's meet But [Mike] Holloway was never fazed about anything but it would be very short-lived because we had another person to get into the finals… That trend not only exists within a single meet but it also exists within our whole program every year We had a team meeting with our men and women separately recently Don't walk around here like you have a title to defend – because that title last year isn't yours.’ We're a blank slate every year I think that's what's permeated through everything It's like when I have an athlete race: They have an outcome in mind but there are moments in that race that make it look like that outcome is not going to happen if you get caught up in how it’s going to unfold negatively – like if you have an athlete not make a final you were planning on – if you get caught up in those things those are the moments that really test you What can I control here in this moment?’ I think it's perfectly fine to talk about winning Our kids know that anytime we go to a championship But in those moments where things aren't going positively or aren't going the way you expected them to go it’s about how you continue to put your best effort out there She has a lot of what I would characterize as extreme personality traits that make her great That was challenging because she had already been very successful before we started working together You couldn't look at her resume and say this person hadn’t had any level of success: she was the NCAA runner-up after missing a bunch of time and then she got hurt over the summer and was still the NCAA runner-up in cross country the kids already had a plan that had been laid out Sam and I just watched for a week and observed stuff then started to draw some conclusions about things she was a little nicked up at the time too I remember somebody telling me even before we really started working with her: ‘You're going to sit down with Parker and she's going to give you this kind of blank affect She's going to seem like the most disinterested person in the world she will have retained everything.’ That was 100% true She doesn't like to let on that she's listening or how engaged she is but she is one of the most engaged athletes you'll ever work with They have to have the marks that show they're capable you don't really know until you start working with someone It doesn't matter if they're coming from Florida or they're coming from Kenya or they're coming from the UK or what have you There's clearly something that's made this person successful and we try to have an environment where they're excited about the process of improving ‘What makes this person unique?’...The really great athletes – they all have a superpower [It’s about] what makes them uniquely excellent and helping them understand what their superpower is and how they wave that sword around…You may not have laser vision How do you use your ability to fly and max that out Listen to the full episode here. OLIPOP: I’ve got a question for you: how’s your Dry January going? Whether you’re crushing it or just dipping your toes in, our friends at Olipop are here to make it a lot more fun—and way more delicious. It’s not just another soda—it’s soda reimagined. Think of all the nostalgic flavors you love, but with way less sugar and a third of your daily fiber in every can. ⁠Get 25% off all your orders at DrinkOlipop.com using code CITIUS25 at checkout Office Hours: Oklahoma State Coach Dave Smith On Building An NCAA Track And Cross Country Powerhouse Office Hours: Harvard Coach Alex Gibby On Developing NCAA Champions Like Graham Blanks and Maia Ramsden BYU Coach Ed Eystone After Winning The 2024 NCAA XC Championships Men’s Team Title | Recap, Reflections, & Insights BYU Coach Diljeet Taylor After Winning The 2024 NCAA XC Championships Women's Team Title | Recap & Reflections Office Hours: Oklahoma State Coach Dave Smith On Building An NCAA Track And Cross Country Powerhouse she won four NCAA titles for the University of Florida during the indoor and outdoor season the outdoor 5,000m and the outdoor 10,000m She also set the collegiate record in the 5,000m (14:52.18) and the collegiate record in the 10,000m (30:50.43).She ran the 14:52.18 at the NCAA Outdoor Championship and her record-setting 10,000m at the Bryan Clay Invitational "When I first started running at the University of Florida I never thought that I would be here accepting this 37 pound trophy," said Valby after receiving her award.  "There were many moments during my running career that I thought about quitting so it is very surreal and I'm so grateful to be here," she continued.  The success for Valby carried on through the summer as she took fourth in the 5,000m and second in the 10,000m at the U.S and she would go on to finish 11th at the Paris Olympics at the 10,000m distance in 30:59.28 Valby recently signed a professional contract with New Balance She is expected to make her professional debut at the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston Don't miss all of the track & field action streaming on FloTrack. Check out the FloTrack schedule for more events. Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions American distance runner Parker Valby is on quite a roll Now as she officially makes the move to the professional ranks she has signed a footwear and apparel deal with New Balance A six-time NCAA Champion - and current record holder for the 5000m indoor 5000m outdoor and10,000m - Parker has moved to Boston to train on the brand’s campus and with Team New Balance Boston Parker was a finalist in the 10,000m at the Paris Olympics - that was dominated by fellow New Balance runners such as Gabby Thomas and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone among others - and now joins them on the brand's roster that also includes other superstar women such as Coco Gauff and Cameron Brink “I am excited to join the New Balance family and train in Boston with such an incredible group of runners," Valby said "Family is very important to me and it was very clear that New Balance was the brand for me and I can’t wait to get started." A post shared by New Balance (@newbalance) "Boston already feels like home and I am honored to start my professional career with a brand that wants to support my dreams on and off the track," she continued Parker will appear in various marketing campaigns from running to lifestyle and work with the footwear and apparel design teams to continue to drive the performance running collections and participate in ground-breaking innovation at the New Balance Sports Research Lab “Parker is an incredible talent who shares the same values we do at New Balance and we are honored to have her join our family of athletes,” added Pete Riley New Balance Head of Running Sports Marketing A post shared by New Balance Running (@newbalancerunning) “Having Parker living in Boston and training on our campus is a tremendous opportunity for us to work closely on inspiring the next generation of runners and push innovation forward across product lines.” Stay locked to Sports Illustrated's Kicks On SI for all their most important footwear news from the track and beyond The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Thanks for visiting Oklahoma State clinched the Men's Division I cross country championship State took the title home on the women's side.  Oklahoma lost the title in a devastating tiebreaker in 2022 but walked away with a dominating performance in 2023 They finished with five runners in the Top 15 a whopping 22 points ahead of second place of Northern Arizona This title snapped NAU's three-peat and gave the Pokes their first title since 2012.  Harvard's Graham Blanks was the first to finish Third place was Ky Robinson from Stanford who finished 15 seconds behind Samuel This noted the first time an Ivy League men's runner took home a cross country title.  becoming the first team to three-peat since 2007 The women's finishes were definitely a little more dramatic with NC State edging out second place Northern Arizona by a singular point.  Florida's Parker Valley finished first in the individual race after her second place finish in 2022 as all top 3 finishers broke the previous championship record time Second place went to Alabama's freshman Doris Lemngole who finished 10.5 seconds behind Valby Olivia Markezich of Notre Dame was the final member of the top three finishing 4.3 seconds behind Lemngole.  With the 2024 NCAA XC Championships right around the corner it'll be interesting to see how some of these top finishers and programs do here's a full look at who were the top runners and schools in the country in 2023.  The NCAA D1 Cross Country Championships will be takin place on Nov The D2 championship will be later in the day The D3 Championship will be in Terre Haute The NCAA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Division I National Championships are at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course in Verona They will be hosted by the University of Wisconsin Here are where all divisions are being held:  the top two teams in each regional — there are nine in total — automatically qualify for the championships which equates to 18 automatic qualifiers.  The NCAA DI Cross Country Subcommittee will then choose 13 at-large teams to fill out the 31 team field  the first four finishers who do not belong to an automatic qualifier or an at-large team automatically advance to the championships All four finishers have to finish in the top 25 within their region 36 individuals automatically qualify and two are chosen at-large The two at-large selections are the highest placing individuals at a regional that were not automatic qualifiers November is also the month of high school cross country championship meets. Check the FloTrack schedule for a list of all the state championships streaming on FloTrack Thanks for visiting the six-time NCAA champion was awarded the Bowerman the highest honor in college track and field This title will cap off a season full of hard work and triumphs as the 22-year-old Floridian set three NCAA records in addition to winning four national titles and competing in the Summer Olympics in 2024 alone Valby's season of victory started before the 2024 calendar ever turned when she broke the NCAA record indoor 5,000m in Boston last December she bcame the first female collegiate runner to break the 15-minute barrier for the 5,000m The momentum of that record was only increased when Valby broke her own record for the 5,000m three months later at the NCAA Indoor Championship with a time of 14:52.79 and then recording the third-fastest time in NCAA history during the 3,000m event the next day The success of the indoor championships springboarded Valby to an additional record-breaking outdoor track and field season The 10,000m record was broken by 28 seconds with Valby completing the 25 laps in 30:50.43 and the 5,000m event at the NCAA Outdoor Championship was completed with a time of 14:52.18 She completed her final collegiate season by sweeping the board at the NCAA women's track and field long-distance during the 10,000m Valby made the Olympic team in two events and ran the 10,000m in Paris it is no surprise that Valby would win the Bowerman Award an honor given annually to the top male and female NCAA track and field athletes Although this season was a success story for the Florida native Her hard work was met with injuries and for the first part of her collegiate career "slow and steady wins the race." By the time Valby's senior year rolled around her intense cross-training regime kept her injuries at bay and her hard work definitely paid off Valby signed a deal with New Balance to represent their brand which is a huge for distance runners right out of college she is training under Mark Coogan with New Balance Boston and plans to make her pro debut in February after some rigorous altitude training in Arizona in January CHLOE ENGLAND Olympian Parker Valby has signed a professional contract with New Balance as announced on Thursday morning by the shoe and apparel brand outdoor and cross country seasons while at the University of Florida has moved from Gainesville to Boston and will train with Team New Balance Boston under coach Mark Coogan Emily Mackay and Heather McClean as a part of New Balance Boston Valby had quite the historic collegiate campaign in her final competition year with the Gators 2024 NCAA indoor 3,000m and 5,000m titles and a pair of titles in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June Valby also set collegiate records in the 5,000m (14:52.18) and 10,000m (30:50.43) but made the switch to New Balance heading into her first post-collegiate year While many collegians making the transition to professional running may sign with brands and teams earlier on in the summer months engaged in negotiations with brands up into the fall Don’t miss all the track and field season action streaming on FloTrack. Check out the FloTrack schedule for more events. – Elle St. Pierre, Elise Cranny and Karissa Schweizer went 1-2-3 in the 5000m final at the U.S. Olympic Trials. St. Pierre also qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in the 1500m with a third place finish in a personal best of 3:55.99 behind Nikki Hiltz and Emily Mackay. – St. Pierre and Team New Balance Boston head coach Mark Coogan decided to go all-in on the 1500m and scratched the 5000m. – The United States 10,000m team for the Olympics is set to be Weini Kelati, Parker Valby and Karissa Schweizer. Kelati is the only American woman who has run under the Olympic standard of 30:40.00. Valby and Schweizer are in the Road to Paris World Rankings quota for their respective spots. – Valby, the NCAA champion and U.S. Olympic Trials fourth place finisher in the 5000m, was presented with the option to double with the 5000m and 10,000m at the Olympics but informed CITIUS MAG that she only plans to run the 10,000m. Valby owns a personal best of 30:50.43 from a mostly solo run at the Bryan Clay Invitational in April. The Olympic 10,000m final is on Aug. 9th. – As a result of St. Pierre and Valby opting for just one event, Whittni Orton Morgan (the 5th place finisher in the 5000m final at the Trials) will get the third and final spot for the Paris Olympics. Orton Morgan owns a personal best of 15:02.07 from July 2023. She does not have the Olympic standard but is comfortably in the World Rankings quota to be selected. Her season’s best of 15:05.53 came in the U.S. Olympic Trials final. – Orton Morgan has put together a remarkable comeback in 2024 after undergoing patellar tendon debridement surgery in November 2023. She did not return to running on the ground until early February. She returned to racing in April. The first round of the women’s 5000m is set for Aug. 2. The final is on Aug. 5th. – Orton Morgan joins her training partner and former BYU teammate Courtney Wayment on Team USA. They are coach Diljeet Taylor’s first two Olympians. MarketingNew Balance signs distance runner Parker ValbyBy Rachel Axon10.17.2024 New Balance New Balance signed Parker Valby to a pro contract adding her to its team after the distance runner had an NIL deal with Nike Valby qualified for her first Olympics this year and finished 11th in the 10,000 meters in Paris She holds NCAA records in the 5,000 meters -- indoor and outdoor -- and the outdoor 10,000 meters will train with Team New Balance Boston with coach Mark Coogan She joins the brand whose roster includes several star female athletes including sprinters Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas tennis star Coco Gauff and basketball standout Cameron Brink New Balance plans to feature Valby in campaigns will have her work with the footwear and apparel design teams and be part of innovation at the New Balance Sports Research Lab who in 2023 became the first female track and field athlete to sign an NIL deal with Nike The competition for Valby's shoe deal was expected to include several top brands in the sport and Valby opted out of the Nike deal to sign with New Balance Runner's World reported that the deal with New Balance takes Valby beyond the 2028 L.A Both, coming off of strong cross-country seasons and with no speedwork showed their conditioning from the cross-country season and a preview of what the track season may have in store who was 6th in the 1A FHSAA Cross Country State finals this year with a 16:03.40 and last spring finished second in the FHSAA 1A state 800m with a 1:54.73 Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker A year ago, Parker Valby reached the peak for collegiate athletes with a national title in the 5,000 meter Many wondered what would be in store for the Florida runner's fourth year What followed were rewrites of the record book took home five NCAA Championships this season — one in cross country and two in indoor and outdoor track Outdoor came in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters she's doing what many Americans do over the summer Valby clinched her spot for the 2024 Summer Olympics in the 10,000 meter Friday evening The Gators redshirt junior came in second in the event at U.S Valby had not set the Olympic standard in the event and was not named to the team when trials concluded Sunday she had a high enough ranking to be given a spot Valby was also allowed to run in the 5,000 as well in Paris, but she told Citius Magazine Saturday that she intends to run in the 10,000 only Although she won national titles in both races Valby came in fourth in the 5,000 at trials but she decided otherwise after the fourth place finish "I didn't come this far to just come this far," Valby said "I didn't want to leave on a 4th place note "If you had taken my heart rate before the 5,000 but I was much calmer for this race," Valby said She was the only collegiate runner to compete in the 10,000 Valby made history this season by becoming the first female distance runner to win five NCAA Championships in a season Valby finished behind winner Weini Kelati by just 0.49 seconds at trials This sets her up well for success in Paris This will be the East Lake High School alum's first time in Europe "I'm probably most excited for the coffee and the food," Valby said That's my dream because there are so many cows there." The final for the women's 10,000 meter is set for 2:55 p.m August 9th from the Stade de France in the Paris commune of Saint-Denis Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on Twitter With two days remaining in the Summer Olympics the Florida Gators have already left their mark on Paris The orange and blue have won 12 medals Two of Florida's most recognizable athletes suited up toward the end of the track and field competition — Anna Hall and Parker Valby competed Thursday and Friday in the two-day ET Thursday and didn't end until about 2:30 p.m The 35-hour heptathlon sends athletes to their limits Winners have the title of "world's best female athlete" bestowed upon them Hall still managed to save her best for last She entered the Heptathlon's final event — the 800-meter run — in fifth place The Colorado native ran one of the best races of her life the next seven runners also set personal bests This meant Hall couldn't push her way into a spot on the medal stand Hall's will and determination were shown in full force and NBC cameras showed her family offering motivational words to an exhausted Hall a 13th-place finish on the long jump pushed her down to sixth Hall can easily be back in Los Angeles for the 2028 Games Olympic track and field events are filled with seasoned pros is still a two-time world championships medalist she'd only won one collegiate national title Valby found herself on the track of the Stade de France on Friday evening after a phenomenal college season and two remarkable races at Olympic Trials The Tampa area native was truly running with house money Friday She paced herself well to start in a race that tracks 6.2 miles Valby suddenly moved to the outside and into first The NBC commentators perked up about the possibility of an American medalist the lead proved short-lived as those seasoned pros The Gator alum ended in the top half of competition and concluded an otherworldly season Valby said she gained respect for herself after the performance ‘I don’t think I’m going to be able to even break 32 (minutes).’ I was so unconfident in my abilities at this point But I mean I did it," she told Citrus Magazine Valby was one of the youngest competitors in the field Gator fans should expect to see her on home soil in LA Valby's teammate this season and fellow national champion Grace Stark will be the final top Gator to suit up in these games Stark will run in the event she won a title in this season — the 100-meter hurdles The Michigan native won her semifinal Friday morning in 12.39 eight hundredths faster than her time Friday The Gator from 2021-24 said she draws inspiration from Florida medalists Grant Holloway and Jasmine Moore "It definitely helps seeing Grant and Jasmine do so well last night," Stark said in a statement being at the end and hoping to do as well as them." The closing ceremonies of the Paris Games are at 3 p.m Noah Ram covers Gainesville-area high school sports and University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on Twitter. Your Ads Privacy ChoicesIMDb Thanks for visiting — It seems like all Parker Valby does is run—and win the Florida Gators track star racked up five national championships during the indoor and outdoor seasons the soon-to-be professional finished second in the 10,000 meters at the U.S earning her a spot on the team that will compete in the Summer Olympics in Paris but she decided to focus solely on the 10K That success will get you noticed when you're out and about and the cashier was like, “Bring home the gold!” Valby laughed during a video chat I’m just happy to be here [haha].' I think it’ll sink in Parker logged a lot of laps during her final collegiate season Entering the 10,000-meter race at the Olympic trials Karissa Schweizer (who finished third at the trials) They were like, 'Did you know you ran 160 laps?' Yeah It’d kind of insane to thing about," Parker said when describing the mileage she's covered this season Valby's success creates an environment where she's expected to win but she admits that she also puts pressure on herself I was grateful to be able to have that pressure I feel like I perform better under pressure." whether it’s going to school in the state of Florida whether it’s representing the United States of America "She continues to drive and use her discipline to achieve the greatness that she has." Kyle has a reputation for keeping cool while watching his daughter race The same is true for Parker's high school coach Britt Taylor When your athlete has that type of confidence Valby knows the eyes of the world will be on her especially those of young women who want to reach the level of success she's achieved Never limit yourself," Parker said when asked what she'd say to girls watching her run The women's 10,000-meter final is set for Friday and I feel like that's part of where the system failed" Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark Report a typo Thanks for visiting Florida’s Parker Valby, Texas’ Leo Neugebauer win The Bowerman - Southeastern ConferenceDecember 19, 2024ShareXFacebookFlorida’s Parker Valby Texas’ Leo Neugebauer win The BowermanFormer University of Florida track and field athlete Parker Valby and former University of Texas track and field athlete Leo Neugebauer have been named winners of The Bowerman the highest honor bestowed to collegiate track and field's most outstanding athletes of the year The 22-year-old will be relocating to Boston to train with the Team New Balance Boston group under the guidance of Coach Mark Coogan Industry sources report that Valby’s contract is upwards of USD $700,000 and will be in play until well past the 2028 L.A. Olympic Games. The surprise signing of the talented Pennsylvania native called for an elaborate announcement video and a press release which reveals that Valby will take part in additional running and lifestyle campaigns to promote the New Balance brand “Family is very important to me and it was very clear that New Balance was the brand for me and I can’t wait to get started,” Parker said “Boston already feels like home and I am honoured to start my professional career with a brand that wants to support my dreams on and off the track.” A post shared by New Balance (@newbalance) the right-of-first-refusal clause written into her NIL agreement allowed Nike to match any professional contract offer from other brands within the six months following her final collegiate race; evidently went pro with the brand following her collegiate career; Maia Ramsden did the same with On Running Valby is the first high-profile track runner to go in a different direction when signing her pro contract Florida track and field star makes history with Nike Valby will be among the Olympic champions Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas She’ll train in the New Balance Boston group alongside the accomplished Team USA Olympians Elle St Get the digital edition of Running for your chosen platform: Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: The patch tweaks the popular ‘Valby run’ farming method the Valby run involves destroying generators and damaging the boss enough to trigger its ball immune phase then using the character Valby’s ability to deal continuous damage while moving around the outer ring of the arena in an endless loop players were able to gain hundreds of thousands of in-game gold and loads of XP in just a few minutes the reward amount at Fortress outpost has been reduced,” The First Descendant director Joo Min-seok explained to ensure that ‘Valby run’ remains a popular hunting ground like Ambush Point and Refined Run we have set the reward efficiency significantly higher than originally intended We hope to provide numerous farming spots in The First Descendant each with unique characteristics and usefulness to different Descendants Instead of reverting Valby run to its original design intent we have adjusted it to offer similar efficiency to other high-reward hunting grounds we have shortened the cooldowns for all outposts so that players can play them more frequently without deliberately failing and no longer need to search for outposts with shorter cooldowns by moving around the map We have also added gold rewards to Special Operations and adjusted four types of Void Fragments to be randomly dropped allowing players to choose and utilize various hunting grounds “Through issues like the Fortress Outskirts and Valby run we are learning what kind of playstyle our players enjoy The experience of sweeping through and farming monsters is of significant value in our game “Your feedback and interest are what drive the continuous improvement of The First Descendant We will always listen to your feedback and improve the game.” Joo Min-seok also offered a week five preview for The First Descendant which goes live next week and adds a new Descendant called Luna the Magisters have completed the ultimate project for Valby called "Sea of Emerald," has fulfilled Valby's long-held desire It is a nano suit that replicates Valby’s former body color and texture Valby feels like regaining a long-forgotten part of herself The Mad Artist Luna has returned to Albion after a long wandering performance Luna's synthesizer gun becomes more powerful when fired in rhythm enhancing allies' abilities based on the performance allies' mentality recovers and resource consumption decreases but Luna's performance is just beginning The mutated Devourer-type Gluttony is a giant that indulges in Void Energy It is equipped with systems to mine Void Energy and a cooling system to cool the heat generated during this process you need measures to withstand its cooling performance and the judgment to exploit its greedy temperament Intercept Gluttony and collect new ultimate weapons and external components New Ultimate Weapon "Peace Mediator" When meditation is necessary to bring peace to Ingris the new ultimate weapon Peace Mediator is the perfect solution This powerful hand cannon is effective even with single shots but can unleash a burst of bullets to deliver powerful firepower under the right conditions New Ultimate Module "Arche Concretion" which increases defense and mentality when using skills but decreases movement speed and attack power It is particularly useful for Luna and Ajax and can be a good choice for players who want stable skill use Your choices are free; combine various Modules to create your unique build we have decided to make balance adjustments for some Descendants and Ultimate weapons We hope to see these Descendants more effectively dominate the battlefield creating large AOE zones and leisurely watching enemies fall from the rear Look forward to improved performance for these wide-range covering Descendants there will be improvements to Ultimate weapons that enhance critical hit chance and damage and Nazeistra's Devotion (hand cannon) will be improved to boast more powerful firepower with critical settings Greg's Reversed Fate (tactical rifle) will be adjusted to activate its unique effect in more chances We are also improving the functionality of single-shot weapons allowing players to choose between single-shot and rapid-fire modes There will also be more improvements for convenience to be included in the week 5 update new cosmetics that many players have been waiting for will be out Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me. I have absolutely no idea what the story of the game is about it’s next to impossible to understand what the hell is going on The shooting feels good and the powers are interesting I’m level 25 right now and plan on continuing to play the game Watch how bored people get of the repetition in roughly 4 months I mean if you haven't gotten bored with it already