Former Cal Poly track star Shelby Daniele has died months after receiving his master’s degree

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

A cause of death was not announced.

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

The Cal Polytechnical Institute sprinter competed for the Mustangs for five years between 2020 and 2024.

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

“Cal Poly Athletics was deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of former Cal Poly student-athlete Shelby Daniele,” the school’s track and field team said on Instagram 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 honoree, a two-time Big West champion, a team captain and a school record holder, but more importantly, she was an incredible teammate and leader.” She cared deeply for the people around her, had a remarkable heart and was a role model to so many.

“Shelby was truly one of a kind and will be sorely missed by everyone in the Cal Poly community. Our condolences go out to her family and friends,” the school concluded.

Daniele holds the Mustangs’ program record for the fastest indoor 200m run at 24.69 seconds.

Her time of 11.58 is also the second fastest ever in school history in the 60m and 100m indoors.

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

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

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

Daniele won the CIF state title in the 200m individual race her senior year with a time of 23.73 seconds.

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

According to her LinkedIn profile, Daniele worked alongside her family as a Field Assistant Manager at Jalonen Ranches, a family-run almond and walnut farm in Caruthers, California.

She pursued a career in agriculture “so I could improve the environment and give back to our community.”

Daniele’s sister paid tribute to her “best friend.”

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

“I wish so much I could have spent the rest of our lives together, but now everything will be different and we will 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, little girl,” the grieving sister added.

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