Florida's Parker Valby becomes first female track and field athlete to ink NIL deal with Nike

Parker Valby has made NIL history.

The Florida track star has become the first female college runner to sign an endorsement deal with Nike. The SEC and NCAA champion in the 5000 meters joins a small class of college athletes to work with the sportswear company since the inception of NIL.

Because Florida is a Nike school, Valby will be able to rep the swoosh in all of her track events with the Gators. Kimbia Athletics facilitated the deal. She finished second at the NCAA Cross Country Championships back in November and overcame a lower leg injury this spring.

“It’s obviously a positive for me, but as well, it’s nice that Nike and others see value in collegiate track and field, and to be one of the first is a real honor,” Valby said in a statement. “Also, the opportunity to earn an income while in school might be an incentive for some student-athletes to stay in the NCAA, which is good for the NCAA and the sport.”

Named a USTFCCCA Outdoor first-team All-American in the 5000 meters, she has more than 59,000 social media followers.

As part of the agreement, the track and field star will be able to give back to her community, too. Team USA has yet to announce dates for Olympic trials for the Paris 2024 games.

Nike continues to ramp up NIL involvement

Nike has not rushed into the name, image and likeness space. UCLA soccer player Reilyn Turner was the first to sign an NIL agreement with the brand, back in December 2021. In June 2022, Stanford’s Rachel Heck joined the Nike Golf family.

The biggest statement Nike has made in the NIL game came this past fall, when Bronny James, Caitlin Clark, Haley Jones, DJ Wagner and Judea Watkins all signed with the sneaker magnet. The move set the company up to be in a strong position to ink long-term deals for the next generation of basketball stars.

This is not the company first NIL foray into running, either. Stanford cross-country star Charles Hicks, who won the school’s first NCAA cross-country individual national championship, inked a partnership with Nike back in March. At the time, Runner’s World reported that Hicks’ deal could be worth between $50,000 and $150,000 per year.

Adidas signed NC State long-distance runner Katelyn Tuohy in November. The six-time All-American and 2022 ACC Outdoor Track Performer of the Year runs at an adidas school.