Shelby Daniele, a former track and field star at California Polytechnic State University, tragically passed away last week due to a brain aneurysm. The 23-year-old athlete’s cause of death was disclosed by Brian Brandenburg, the father of a fellow student-athlete at the university, in a social media post. Brandenburg expressed his sorrow over the loss of Daniele, who he described as a significant influence on his daughter Eva’s decision to join the track team at Cal Poly.
Brandenburg’s heartfelt post revealed the profound impact Daniele had on his daughter and the entire Cal Poly community. He described the young athlete as the catalyst behind Eva’s choice to pursue track at the university. He also urged everyone to cherish their loved ones and requested prayers for Daniele’s family.
A brain aneurysm, the cause of Daniele’s untimely death, is a potentially fatal condition characterized by a bulge in a weak area of a blood vessel in or around the brain. According to medical experts, brain aneurysms can affect anyone, regardless of age, and are more prevalent in women. Symptoms can vary depending on whether the aneurysm is ruptured or unruptured.
The Cal Poly Track and Field team paid tribute to Daniele in a touching social media post, lauding her as a role model, an exceptional teammate, and a leader. They expressed their deep condolences to her family and friends, acknowledging the significant loss to the university community.
Daniele, who competed for the Mustangs from 2020 to 2024, was a standout athlete. She held the program record for the fastest indoor 200m at 24.69 seconds and was the second fastest in school history in the indoor 60m and the 100m. She also placed second in the 200m at the 2024 Big West Championships.
Before her time at Cal Poly, Daniele was a promising athlete at Buchanan High School in her hometown of Clovis, California. She won the CIF State title in the 200m individual race during her senior year. Beyond her athletic prowess, Daniele was also academically accomplished, earning a bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 2023 and a master’s degree in the same field with distinction in 2024.
Daniele’s sister, Jessica Reichman, shared a heartfelt tribute on social media, expressing her grief over the loss of her best friend. A candlelight memorial service was held for Daniele at Buchanan High School, as announced in a social media post.