The race results indicate Valby is fitter, even if she doesn’t realize it, yet. We can compare the SEC Champs times as one example indicating this:
-On this forum last year, we had guys looking at satellite imagery of the 2022 SEC course, convinced that it was probably 200m short (that’s ~38sec.)
-But for the 2023 SEC course (which, BTW, seemed to have been run in warmer conditions than last year), we had multiple parties visit the board (one said he was affiliated with setting up the course) stating the course was accurate in distance (although the split timing mats may have been off.) Additionally, somebody said Strava data from race results indicated the 2023 SEC distance was accurate.
But even if Valby is fitter this year, and in around 15min or sub-15min shape, that does not mean she is currently ready to run up to that fitness on a track, which is dependent upon whether ‘the kinetic chain’ is ready to take the sustained impact. Her team will know what is best rather than anyone here, and will be expected to try and bring her along appropriately.