Anna Hall sends a three-word reaction as 6x NCAA Champion Parker Valby receives a major honor for 2024 season exploits

Anna Hall expressed pride in her friend and NCAA standout athlete Parker Valby's special moment as the latter received The Bowerman honor on Thursday, December 19. Hall came fresh off her Paris Olympic stint, finishing fifth in the heptathlon, whereas Valby recorded a stellar season, winning four NCAA titles.

Anna Hall, the two-time NCAA title winner representing the University of Florida, missed the Tokyo Olympics because of an injury at the Trials. She made up for her absence at the 2024 US Olympic trials, winning the heptathlon event and advancing to the finals in Paris. In the Olympic finals, she finished fifth behind Nafissatou Thiam, Katarina Johnson-Thompson, Noor Vidts, and Annik Kaelin.

On December 23, Hall took to her Instagram story to laud her friend and fellow Florida Gators athlete Parker Valby, who received the highest honor for a track and field athlete in collegiate history, the Bowerman Award for her stellar 2024 season.

Hall posted a picture of her watching Valby take the trophy and wrote:

"Proud friend moments."

Anna Hall shouts out to Parker Valby; Instagram - @annaa.hall

The original post shared by Valby read:

"A 35 pound trophy is the cherry on top of a dream come true year for this bower(wo)man. Such a fun few days back at home with friends and family celebrating all of these amazing finalists 🫶🏼 congrats to every one of the finalists and to @leothegerman for winning the bower(man)."

Valby broke her own collegiate record and clinched the 5000m win at the NCAA Indoor Championships. She added the 3000m win in the same Indoor Championships and 5000m and 10000m titles in the Outdoor edition. The 22-year-old also soared to the 3000m victory at the SEC Indoors and 5000m at the SEC Outdoors.

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Anna Hall once weighed in on taking a break from the track after the Paris Olympics

Anna Hall at the 2024 Summer Olympics - (Source: Getty)

Anna Hall underwent knee surgery in January while building up to the Paris Games. She persevered to win her event at the Trials, followed by narrowly missing out on the podium at the Games.

Following the Olympics, the Olympian took to her Instagram story on September 29, to talk about her life away from the track before heading to the 2025 season training.

"I took a real break from the track after the Olympics for the first time ever honestly. This year was hard and even though I didn't want to admit it, I needed [a break]. I spent it traveling, seeing my friends and family and getting my puppy....After taking real time away, I am nervous getting back in shape."

She added:

"For athletes, fall training is the hardest part of the year as we typically take four weeks off after out last competition before we start it."

Hall got back to training in the gym for her 2025 season with the 2025 World Championships in sight.