Former College Track Star Shelby Daniele Dies After Earning Her Master’s Degree: ‘This Loss Leaves a Gigantic Hole’

Mar. 15, 2025

Sprinter spikes (stock image).Photo:Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty

Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty

A recent California Polytechnic State University graduate who broke records in track and field has died, her former team announced on social media.

A cause of death has not been revealed for Daniele, who was born in 2001 andreportedlywas 23 at the time of her death.

According to her college team, she most recently graduated from Cal Poly this spring with her master’s in agriculture with distinction.

Daniele was an “exceptional student-athlete” who spent five years lending her talents to the program, per the post. Her career highlights include being a “six-time All-Big West honoree,” a “two-time Big West champion,” a school record holder and a team captain.

According to theCal Poly website, she holds the school record for the indoor 200 meter (24.69 seconds), holds the No. 2 all-time spot in the women’s indoor 60 meter (7.62 seconds), had tied the No. 2 women’s 100 meter record (11.58 seconds) and was No. 3 all-time in the women’s outdoor 200 meter (23.57 seconds).

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Before heading to Cal Poly for higher education, Daniele was a student-athlete on the Buchanan track and field team, which also shared a tribute and noted that she was also a “standout” runner in high school.

Friends and family paid tribute to the late student-athlete at Buchanan High School’s Veteran’s Memorial Stadium on Friday, according toThe Fresno Bee, which noted that her name was lit up on the stadium’s scoreboard.

Daniele’s high school coach Brian Weaver told NBC affiliateKSEEthat people from all over the country have reached out to express their condolences, as he remembered her as “a big part of our family” and “everything you want a young athlete to be.”

“She mentored so many athletes,” Weaver said. “Kept them going when times were tough — after graduating she would take her personal time to come say hi to all the coaches and athletes.”

“She loved everything,” Weaver added. “If people could just go and do that, love every minute that you have, she would want to be remembered for that. She lived life to the fullest.”

source: people.com