Collegiate Record: Parker Valby Smashes All-Time Absolute 5000-Meter Standard

We’ve never seen someone like Parker Valby in collegiate history.

Valby won her fifth NCAA title of the scholastic year in style, romping to an absolute collegiate record in the 5000 meters of 14:52.18. That trumped the former absolute collegiate record – which counts both indoor and outdoor – by 0.61 seconds, which Valby set during the indoor season.

Perhaps more notably is that Valby just missed the Olympic qualifying standard of 14:52.00. She was originally credited with 14:51.98 when she crossed the finish line, but it corrected to 14:52.18.

Valby and eventual runner-up Hilda Olemomoi of Alabama were lockstep through 3400 meters, but that’s when the Florida standout pushed the pace even harder and turned it into a race against the clock. By 3800 meters, Valby led by four seconds, and then ten seconds at 4200 meters. Olemomoi would finish nearly 18 seconds back in 15:10.04.