Earlier today, FloTrack reported that Florida distance superstar Parker Valby will be a medical scratch from the women's 3000 meters at the upcoming indoor national meet.
The Stride Report has since confirmed that report.
The Gator phenom was recently absent from racing at the SEC Indoor Championships, although she was seen at the meet.
Valby has only raced twice this season. She first toed the line on the anchor leg of Florida's distance medley relay back in January. There, she split 4:35 over 1600 meters, leading her squad to a time of 10:57.
Three weeks later, Valby chose to be the aggressor in the women's 3000 meters at Boston University, implementing a hard pace before fading slightly to a still-strong mark of 8:49 for the distance.
The Florida runner never contested a 5k race this winter.
While it's not officially clear what Valby's "medical scratch" pertains to, it should be noted that the Gator standout has a history of injury.
Just last year, Valby's 2022 indoor track season was cut short going into the month of February due to an injury. She later rallied in the spring to qualify for the outdoor national meet in the 5k where she earned runner-up honors behind Katelyn Tuohy.
The current 2023 indoor track season is also the first season that Valby has worked under new Florida distance coach, Will Palmer. Following the departure of former coach Chris Solinsky in December, the Gators ultimately hired the now-former Alabama women's coach.
With Valby now out of the 3k at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships, BYU's Lexy Halladay-Lowry is expected to be the final woman into the national meet for that event. That entry is not yet confirmed, but multiple sources believe that the Cougar distance talent will be given a spot on the starting line should she accept it.