Florida State University Athletics
Walker, Blade Named Performers of the Year
6/26/2026 11:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
TALLAHASSEE – Senior Shenese Walker is the 2026 ACC Women's Outdoor Performer of the Year and freshman Rylee Blade is the Women's Freshman of the Year, part of the annual awards announced by the conference office on Friday.
Walker becomes the third person in program history to receive the award for the outdoor season and the first person to sweep both the indoor and outdoor yearly awards in the same season. Blade is the fifth FSU woman to earn Freshman of the Year honors.
SHENESE WALKER – ACC WOMEN'S PEFORMER OF THE YEAR
Walker, who was recently named a semifinalist for the Bowerman Award given to the top track and field athletes in the nation, opened her individual season on April 18 at the Tom Jones Memorial Invite with a school- and ACC-record time of 10.80 seconds. The mark stood as the second-fastest time in the world for nine consecutive weeks. Walker remains the fastest Jamaican in the world this year and ranks fifth all-time in collegiate history and eighth in Jamaican history
At the ACC Outdoor Championship, Walker was named the women's MVP for the second time in her career after pulling off double victory in the sprints with 20 total points. Walker qualified for her third and final NCAA Outdoor National Championship in the 100, winning the 100-meter race in 10.88 seconds to edge out world leader and collegiate record holder Adaejah Hodge of Georgia in the finals.
Walker won the program's third national title in the event and the first since Michelle Finn in 1985. The Jamaica native's victory also marked Florida State's 22nd national champion of all-time and the program's first since Colleen Quigley in 2015.
"There were some great performers in the ACC," said FSU head coach Matt Kane. "The ACC women had three of the 19 individual NCAA champs so that was exciting to see the growth in our conference and for Shenese to be named performer of the year means a great deal. Especially with all the other great athlete in the conference."
RYLEE BLADE – ACC WOMEN'S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Freshman Rylee Blade concluded a remarkable debut collegiate season by setting two school records and earning first team All-America honors. In April, Blade broke the Florida State record in the women's 5,000 meters at the Penn Relays, clocking a time of 15:29.45. She then became the first freshman in Florida State history to win the women's 10,000 meters at the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, capturing the title in record-setting fashion with a personal-best and meet-record time of 32:35.75.
The California native advanced to her first national championship after placing fourth in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA East First Round. Blade then finished seventh in the event at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, earning First-Team All-America honors while setting a new Florida State school record and U20 American record with a personal-best time of 32:08.83.
"Rylee had an outstanding freshman campaign." added Kane. "The 10k is a huge challenge for a freshman and for her to win the 10k and make all-American status speaks volumes about her talent and the work that she and coach Halsey put in this season. Look forward to many more great years from Rylee in the future."
"I'm beyond excited and proud of Rylee for earning this honor," said FSU assistant coach Cody Halsey. "It is so well deserved. Rylee works tirelessly to achieve her goals. This accomplishment was one of many she set for herself this year, and to earn it in a conference with such a deep pool of talent is a true testament to her potential. She works incredibly hard and consistently brings out the best in those around her. She had an outstanding cross country, indoor and outdoor season. This is just the beginning!"
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Walker becomes the third person in program history to receive the award for the outdoor season and the first person to sweep both the indoor and outdoor yearly awards in the same season. Blade is the fifth FSU woman to earn Freshman of the Year honors.
SHENESE WALKER – ACC WOMEN'S PEFORMER OF THE YEAR
Walker, who was recently named a semifinalist for the Bowerman Award given to the top track and field athletes in the nation, opened her individual season on April 18 at the Tom Jones Memorial Invite with a school- and ACC-record time of 10.80 seconds. The mark stood as the second-fastest time in the world for nine consecutive weeks. Walker remains the fastest Jamaican in the world this year and ranks fifth all-time in collegiate history and eighth in Jamaican history
At the ACC Outdoor Championship, Walker was named the women's MVP for the second time in her career after pulling off double victory in the sprints with 20 total points. Walker qualified for her third and final NCAA Outdoor National Championship in the 100, winning the 100-meter race in 10.88 seconds to edge out world leader and collegiate record holder Adaejah Hodge of Georgia in the finals.
Walker won the program's third national title in the event and the first since Michelle Finn in 1985. The Jamaica native's victory also marked Florida State's 22nd national champion of all-time and the program's first since Colleen Quigley in 2015.
"There were some great performers in the ACC," said FSU head coach Matt Kane. "The ACC women had three of the 19 individual NCAA champs so that was exciting to see the growth in our conference and for Shenese to be named performer of the year means a great deal. Especially with all the other great athlete in the conference."
RYLEE BLADE – ACC WOMEN'S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Freshman Rylee Blade concluded a remarkable debut collegiate season by setting two school records and earning first team All-America honors. In April, Blade broke the Florida State record in the women's 5,000 meters at the Penn Relays, clocking a time of 15:29.45. She then became the first freshman in Florida State history to win the women's 10,000 meters at the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, capturing the title in record-setting fashion with a personal-best and meet-record time of 32:35.75.
The California native advanced to her first national championship after placing fourth in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA East First Round. Blade then finished seventh in the event at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, earning First-Team All-America honors while setting a new Florida State school record and U20 American record with a personal-best time of 32:08.83.
"Rylee had an outstanding freshman campaign." added Kane. "The 10k is a huge challenge for a freshman and for her to win the 10k and make all-American status speaks volumes about her talent and the work that she and coach Halsey put in this season. Look forward to many more great years from Rylee in the future."
"I'm beyond excited and proud of Rylee for earning this honor," said FSU assistant coach Cody Halsey. "It is so well deserved. Rylee works tirelessly to achieve her goals. This accomplishment was one of many she set for herself this year, and to earn it in a conference with such a deep pool of talent is a true testament to her potential. She works incredibly hard and consistently brings out the best in those around her. She had an outstanding cross country, indoor and outdoor season. This is just the beginning!"
Follow Florida State track and field and cross country on X and Instagram (FSU_Track)
Players Mentioned
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