Track and field star Shelby Daniele, 23, beams with pride in tragic final pic at Cal Poly graduation before sudden death

EX-TRACK and field star Shelby Daniele beamed with pride at her master’s graduation ceremony in June – just months before her sudden death.

News of former student athlete’s death was announced in a heartbreaking post by the university’s track and field team on Thursday.

Facebook/Daniel Daniele

Instagram/Cal Poly Athletics

Shelby, who grew up in Clovis, California , outside Fresno, was a star sprinter during her time at California Polytechnic State University in San Louis Obispo.

She was a school record holder in the women’s indoor 200-meter dash, tied number two all-time in the women’s indoor 60 meters, and ranked number two all-time in the women’s 100-meter event.

Shelby chose to study at the university because she felt it would allow her to grow in academics and athletics, per her athlete profile .

She earned her bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 2023 before graduating with a master’s degree in agriculture this June.

Movingly, she also told the university she had hoped to use her degrees to “secure a position in my job that involves agricultural business so that I can improve the environment and give back to our society.”

Her dad, Daniel, shared a touching picture from his daughter’s graduation ceremony in June.

“Congratulations to my daughter Shelby Daniele for graduating with her master’s degree from Cal Poly,” the post said.

Shelby, in the middle of the image, sported a yellow outfit.

She wore her graduation regalia, including honors cords and her master’s hood, along with a double orchid purple lei.

Shelby, 23, also wore a kukui nut lei necklace made out of shells painted in Cal Poly colors.

A kukui nut lei has links to enlightenment and protection, according to Hawaiian culture.

Her cause of death remains unknown.

The Cal Poly track and field team described Shelby as an exceptional, one-of-a-kind student-athlete who was a team captain and a two-time Big West champion.

“She cared deeply for those around her, had a remarkable heart, and was a role model for so many,” the statement read.

The death of Shelby Daniele

The track and field team at California Polytechnic University shared a statement following the death of ex-student athele Shelby Daniele.

“Cal Poly Athletics was deeply saddened to learn of the recent passing of former Cal Poly student-athlete Shelby Daniele.

“Shelby was an exceptional student-athlete on the Cal Poly track and field team for five years, graduating from Cal Poly this spring with her master’s in agriculture with distinction.

“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.”

Source: Instagram

As an undergraduate, she was named to the 2023 Big West Spring All-Academic Team.

And as a junior, she was a finalist for the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s annual Innovation Quest competition for startup funding with a team that developed ice cream infused with electrolytes to create a novel method of hydration.

There has been an outpouring of grief from her former teammates and friends.

In a Facebook post, Alissyn Mendenhall, a friend, said Shelby had lived her fullest life for 23 years.

“So blessed to have cheered alongside Shelby for 5 years, memories I’ll cherish forever,” she said.

Sierra Brill, part of the coaching staff on the University of San Francisco track and field programs, described Shelby as an “amazing teammate” and a “gracious competitor.”

Brill was part of a championship-winning team at California Polytechnic.

Mason Elefant, an alumnus of the university, said he was truly blessed to be a teammate.

Sportsperson Alyssa Antolin described Shelby as a beautiful soul.