Aggie All-American breaks Utah State steeplechase records in historic season

Shelby Jensen has emerged as one of Utah State’s most accomplished track athletes, turning a promising freshman year into a record-breaking sophomore season that established her as one of the nation’s top steeplechasers.  

In June at the NCAA outdoor championships in Eugene, Oregon, Jensen ran 9:36.61 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase final, breaking her own school record and earning First-Team All-American honors. Her finish was the highest national placement ever for a Utah State woman in the event and marked the first time since 2018 that an Aggie female reached the NCAA final in the steeplechase. 

Now entering her junior year, Jensen’s progression from a 10:10 freshman season to sub-9:40 times in just two years has been the result of consistent effort and adapting to a new environment. 

“The freshman year is really hard, and you’re dealing with a lot of changes,” Jensen said. “You know, moving from a different support group — going from being surrounded by your family and your friends to meeting your teammates who come from all different backgrounds. Being a sophomore helped a lot. I already knew what to expect when I came to practice.” 

Jensen’s work ethic has been a defining feature of her rise. Utah State Track & Field/Cross Country director Artie Gulden said her improvement was more mental than physical. 

“She was a different runner last outdoor season just from a confidence perspective,” Gulden said. “Every race I saw her run, she was super confident. She followed the race plan — put herself in position to win — and that confidence just kept growing with every success.” 

Jensen’s natural talent for the steeplechase was apparent from the start. Gulden noted her everyday dedication to technique and training allowed her to make significant gains in a short period. She never competed in the event before coming to Utah State, but her coaches immediately saw potential.  

“Sometimes kids just naturally can do it,” Gulden said. “She was just so smooth and natural going over the water jumps right from day one. In fact, after her first race in the steeple, she was already number two all-time in USU history.” 

Jensen said she was instantly drawn to the challenges of the event. 

“The hurdles don’t fall down — you do,” she said. “First time I went over the water jump, I knew this was something I wanted to pursue. I loved it immediately.” 

Her improvement has been methodical with a focus on both physical and mental preparation. Working with coaches Mark Crandall and Sarah Nardoni, Jensen learned to stay relaxed over the barriers, maintain consistent pacing and approach the water jumps with confidence rather than hesitation. 

“If I think too much, I mess up,” Jensen said. “This year, we focused on staying smooth and efficient, building confidence over the hurdles and water jumps. By June, it wasn’t the hurdles I worried about — it was about staying in it mentally.” 

Jensen’s upbringing played a key role in shaping her discipline and independence. She is one of 15 siblings and grew up learning responsibility from a young age. Her older sister Abby was also a steeplechaser at Utah State and currently ranks fourth all-time in the outdoor 3,000-meter with a time of 10:14.07. 

“Abby has been my biggest supporter along with my parents,” Jensen said. “When I broke the school record, she texted me immediately to say how proud she was.” 

Shelby Jensen poses for a picture on May 31 after clinching a spot in the 2025 NCAA national championships for the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Her three younger brothers are equally devoted fans. 

“I’m pretty bashful about it, but they won’t let anyone forget I’m an All-American. It makes me want to be better — knowing I’m representing them,” Jensen said. 

Jensen has also benefited from her experience as a multi-sport athlete. Growing up, she played basketball in addition to running, playing the power forward position with her 5-foot-10-inch frame. Even now, she occasionally heads to the ARC to shoot hoops. 

“Basketball has been a really good outlet,” she said. “It’s not quite as cardiovascular as running. It takes different levels of leadership and different levels of patience, and so I think it’s helped me learn how to deal with and accept a lot of different people.” 

Her analytical approach extends beyond athletics and into her studies. A data analytics major, Jensen applies the same methodology to her training that she uses in the classroom, giving her an extra edge in competition. 

“In data analytics, you’re always looking at the information you’ve been given to solve a problem,” she said. “From freshman to sophomore year, I noticed I wasn’t sleeping enough or fueling properly. I assessed the data and made adjustments, and that helped me perform better.” 

Looking ahead, Jensen’s goals continue to expand. As she focuses on cross country in the fall, where she serves as team captain, Jensen is already aiming to break the NCAA steeplechase record, set in June by Alabama’s Doris Lemngole at 8:58.15. 

“I really believe I can dip below that nine-minute barrier,” Jensen said. “It takes belief on my part first and then obviously all the training after.” 

Gulden cautioned Jensen’s continual progress will take time. 

“It’s great that she’s thinking that way, but our focus is on the process and taking it one race at a time,” Gulden said. “She’s already in a pretty special place in terms of the steeplechase, so being able to continue to improve would just continue to put her in rarer and rarer air.” 

Beyond college competition, Jensen is targeting the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene — the same place where she shattered her own record in June. 

“It’s definitely something we’re keeping in our sights, but we’re going to take it one step at a time,” Jensen said. “I’ve raced there before, and it would be amazing to have a chance to represent the United States. I think it would be a shame to waste an opportunity like that, so I’m going to try my very hardest to get there.” 

As Jensen prepares for another season of cross country and track, her focus remains on training, topping her own times and helping her teammates. With two more years of eligibility, she will continue building on her success on the track while balancing academics and leadership responsibilities.