Shenese Walker owns the Florida State record in the 60 meters (indoors) and the ACC record in the 100 meters (outdoors). But her journey from Jamaica to Tallahassee to winning a national title began with humble roots as a 5- or 6-year old competing at school.

“I would run there, and I would win a couple races, lose a couple,” Walker said. “But I think I discovered my talent there, and that's where it really all started.”

Did she know she was fast even that early?

“No, I was not that good,” Walker says, laughing.

Walker kept getting faster and U.S. coaches took notice in high school, including FSU. But because a number of her classes from Jamaica didn’t transfer, Walker first landed at a Division II school in Missouri for her freshman season. After finding the weather far too cold, Walker jumped in the transfer portal and re-connected with FSU track and field coach Matt Kane.

What sold Walker on FSU?

“Of course it's a beautiful campus, the main thing that really attracted me here was the coach was completely honest with what he's able to do for an athlete. It was very honest, not selling me dreams,” Walker said.

Kane didn’t sell Walker on dreams, but her ambitious goals have become reality.  In three years since arriving at FSU, Walker has been consistently among the fastest runners in college track. Walker has claimed three straight ACC titles in the 60 meters, claiming the FSU and ACC record. And she owns the 100-meter record at FSU and the ACC with a sprint of 10.80 seconds.

This winter, Walker won the national title in the 60 meters in 7.8 seconds at the NCAA Indoors. 

“It has always been a part of the plan to become a national champion,” Walker said. “I don't know exactly when it would have happened, luckily it happened in my senior year, which made it more special.”

And now Walker is aiming at yet another national title as FSU’s track and field team competes at the NCAA Outdoors in Eugene, Oregon, from Wednesday through Saturday. Walker will run in the 100 semifinals on Thursday as well as the 4x100 relay.

She’s taking aim at the college record in the 100, which was set by LSU’s Sha’Carri Richardson (10.75 seconds) in 2019. Walker’s school-record run of 10.80 is just fractionally behind Richardson, and the track in Eugene is one that she considers conducive to a record run.

“I feel like I'm on the right track to get that, the right path,” Walker said. “So that's the goal right now. … It should all happen on the day. If it doesn't, then it's not God's will, but I think it's the perfect atmosphere for it to happen.

Walker says she would like to one day run in the Olympics, which are coming up in 2028 in Los Angeles. But her focus is on what’s ahead with the NCAA Outdoors, and adding to a list of titles and records that she’s pursued and achieved. When asked if Walker has an appreciation for what she’s accomplished in three years, she smiles.

“I love this university very much,” Walker said. “I love the coaching staff, my teammates, the whole FSU family. I do everything with pride for myself and for my school.”

FSU competitors at NCAA Outdoors

Durian Moss - 100 meters
Neo Mosebi - 100 meters
Zach Extine - 110-meter hurdles
Andre Korbmacher - 110-meter hurdles
Shamar Reid - Discus
Kyvon Tatham - Triple Jump
Curtis Williams - Long Jump
Shenese Walker - 4x100, 100m
Lucy May Sleeman - 4x100
Micayah Holland - 4x100
Liana Tyson - 4x100
Oludoyin Soremi - 4x100 (alternates)
Oluwadara Soremi - 4x100 (alternates)
Rylee Blade - 10k
Kayla Pinkard - Triple Jump

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