First, Palmer wasn't doing much coaching of her. She was on her own program, which she had developed with Solinsky. Second, she was injured in Palmer's first year. He began in January 2023. She was injured that year and ended up limping through regionals and NCAAs in the 5000m, while skipping the 10000m.
"In July of 2023, Parker Valby wasn’t running, and she wasn’t cross-training. Instead, she was taking a long break—after injuries had marred the first half of her year.
Last June, as she was finishing her junior year at the University of Florida, Valby won the NCAA 5,000 meters in 15:30.57, her first NCAA title. But she looked like she was limping, which television commentators noted on the broadcast of the meet. Valby later told Track & Field News that her doctors never really figured out the injury. “Something with my back or nerves,” she said."
Then in Fall 2023, she destroyed the competition in xc and in Spring 2024, she destroyed the competition in the 5000m and 10000m before making the Olympic team.
