I forgot about it. Valby continues to come on after winning the 5k in Eugene last spring. She was a Florida highschooler who made their state university proud with her 2nd NC in her 4 years there. Maybe Olivia can give her a run this spring in her last meet in June at Hayward. Still those Alabama Kenyans continue to get better as #2 Doris Lemngole will be a 22 year Freshman then who's been running on European tracks for a few years before deciding to become an NCAA athlete.
So, she's got a Track NCAA title to her resume, as well (and coming in 3rd here wasn't chopped liver). Plus, I think Olivia might have an outside shot at the Olympics in that event, not moving up to the 5K.
Valby, once again, led the 2022 NC almost wire to wire before Tuohy blew by her in the last few hundred yards so she's been top-flite for quite some time. Her reliance on cross-training, as opposed to roadwork (she only runs three times a week) is a really interesting.
she wants to keep running that event for a chance at the Olympics. If she plans on taking running to the pro level and make it a career though there is a lot more money events running regular distance races than steeplechase which is limited to professional track meets and Olympics/trials.
Went from 42nd to 28th.
NCSU nipped NAU by a single point.
Impressively, the ‘Pack overcame the absence of their second-best runner, Kelsey Chmiel, a late scratch due to a leg injury.
Apparently she was ill prior to the race and was not expected to contend for the individual title.
Valby had a great season and she looks to have a bright future.
It's a shame the Markezich sisters are moving on, but the program keeps finding good and solid runners who move up to great and good.
Parker Valby, who got caught last year, has basically led the last two championships for 98% of the time. And she's primarily a cross-trainer (only runs three days a week). The young women from Alabama who took 2nd is only a freshman....watch out.
Oklahoma State beat perennial favorite Northern Colorado, with BYU taking third.
Graham Blanks of Harvard won the individual title.