Former Cal Poly track star Shelby Daniele died months after earning her master’s degree

Former Cal Poly track star Shelby Daniele died Wednesday, just months after celebrating receiving her master’s degree, the university announced.

The cause of death was not disclosed.

Daniele, 23, earned her bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 2023 from California Polytechnic State University, while competing on the school’s track and field team.

The sprinter from Cal Polytechnical Institute competed for the Mustangs for five years, from 2020 to 2024.

In June, Daniele posed with a big smile next to her parents as she celebrated graduating with honors and earning her master’s degree in agriculture.

“Cal Poly Athletics is deeply saddened to learn of the recent death of former Cal Poly student-athlete Shelby Daniele,” the school’s track and field team posted on Instagram on Friday.

“Shelby was an exceptional student-athlete on the Cal Poly track and field team for five years,” the school said. “She was a six-time All-Big West, a two-time Big West champion, team captain and school record holder, but more importantly, she was an incredible teammate and leader. She cared deeply about the people around her, had an extraordinary heart and was a role model for many.

“Shelby was truly one of a kind and will be greatly missed by everyone in the Cal Poly community. We express our condolences to her family and friends,” the school concluded.

Daniele holds the Mustangs program record for the fastest indoor 200-meter dash with a time of 24.69 seconds.

She is also the second fastest in school history in the 60m and 100m indoor races with a time of 11.58.

She placed second in the 200m at the 2024 Big West Championships.

In her final collegiate competition, Daniele placed 43rd with a wind time of 23.65 at the NCAA West qualifiers in Arkansas on May 23.

Before attending Cal Poly, the Clovis, California native was a rising star at Buchanan High School.

Daniele won the CIF state title in the 200-meter individual dash with a time of 23.73 seconds her senior year.

“She was an extremely fierce competitor, but she had so much love and joy for every person she was around,” Weaver told YourCentralValley.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Daniele and her family worked as a field assistant at Jalonen Ranches, a family-owned almond and walnut ranch in Caruthers, California.

She pursued a career in agriculture “to be able to improve the environment and give back to our society.”

Sister Daniele paid tribute to her “best friend”.

“This morning, September 25, 2024, my worst nightmare happened. My sister, my best friend, left Earth to be with God. Too soon and too fast, I will never understand why, but now she is where she should be,” wrote Jessica Reichman on Instagram.

“I so regret that we couldn’t spend the rest of our lives together, but everything will be different now and we’ll get through it. You were the light in everyone’s life and it’s hard to believe. I can’t talk to you anymore. I love you forever, daughter,” added the grieving sister.

According to a Facebook post, Daniele’s family held a candlelight memorial service for her at Buchanan High School on Friday evening at sunset.