Former Cal Poly track star Shelby Daniele dead at 23 just months after earning her masters degree
Former Cal Poly track and field star Shelby Daniele died Wednesday just months after she celebrated receiving her master’s degree, the university announced.A cause of death was not revealed.Daniele, 23, earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 2023 at California Polytechnic State University while starring 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 large smile alongside her parents as she celebrated graduating with her master’s degree in agriculture with distinction.“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 shared 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 honoree, a two-time Big West champion, a team captain and is a school record holder, but more importantly she was an incredible teammate and leader.She cared deeply for those around her, had a remarkable heart and was a role model for so many.“Shelby was truly one of a kind and will be missed dearly 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 at 24.69 seconds.She is also the second fastest all-time in school history in the indoor 60m and the 100m with a time of 11.58.She placed second in the 200m at the 2024 Big West Championships.In her final collegiate event, Daniele finished 43rd with a wind-aided time of 23.65 at the NCAA West Preliminaries in Arkansas on May 23.Before attending Cal Poly, the Clovis, Calif.
native was a rising star at Buchanan High School.Daniele won the CIF State title in the 200m individual race with a time of 23.73 seconds during her senior year.“She was an extr...