Parker Valby proves she can kick with second-place finish at USATF Paris Olympic Trials

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Track fans who have watched Parker Valby’s recent NCAA career have been convinced that she was unable to kick during the late stages of a race. The reason revolved around her strength as a runner to lead a race the entire way, and not having any muscular speed. The truth is, she ran the legs off her competition in the NCAA so that they would not be able to kick. It was a smart tactic when wielding greater talent than her contemporaries. However, the 21-year-old has entered the professional realm and is now racing against mature runners. Next up is the international scene.

On Saturday at the USATF Paris Olympic Trials in Eugene, OR at Hayward Field, Valby raced the 10,000-metre event, but with some semblance of patience. Throughout the race, she sat in third or fourth position. With her were the likes of Karissa Schweizer, who prevailed over Valby in the Trials 5000m race and Weini Kelati, a recent American citizen from Eritrea. Susanna Sullivan led the race for approximately 22 minutes. This is when Kelati took over. Until then, the pace was off the Olympic standard of 30:40 by roughly one minute.

At 25:35 on the clock, Valby went to the front to take the lead.

After the race, she said, “I went when I saw my coach said to go, and it worked.”

Until this point, the entire field was in a pack. Valby dropped the hammer and with her came Kelati and Schweizer. The three put a large amount of space between themselves and the fourth runner, while the field strung out around the track. The three raced the final lap with Kelati and Schweizer exchanging the lead and Valby, appearing to be just hanging on. With 150m remaining Kelati put a small amount of space between the others and Schweizer and Valby sprinted neck and neck to the finish to virtually tie. It was an exciting race.

Kelati won in the time of 31:41.07. Valby took second in 31:41.56 and Schweizer took third with a clocking the same 31:41.56.

For track fans, Valby’s sit an kick tactics were a new look and proved that her leading throughout her NCAA career was about her not needing to kick and perhaps not being able to because she didn’t race very tactically.

Next up may be the Olympics.

On May 11, she set her personal best in the 10,000m clocking 30:50.43 at Cougar Athletics Stadium. On March 16, Kelati ran her personal best of 30:33.82 San Juan Capistrano, CA while Schweizer owns a best of 30:18.05 which she ran at the same Hayward Field in July 2022 at the World Athletics Championships. She finished ninth and eight seconds behind gold medallist Letesenebet Gidey of Ethiopia.

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