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Valley native Rhiannon Walker receives national scholar-athlete award
6/11/2026 2:45:00 PM | Track & Field
CLEVELAND - Fresno State cross country and track & field student-athlete Rhiannon Walker was named the National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Woman Scholar-Athlete of the Year earlier this summer, and officially accepted her award at a presentation at the NATYCAA Convention in Las Vegas this week.
The award recognizes the top male and female two-year athletes from around the country. Walker, who transferred to Fresno State from Clovis Community, earned the award for her success at the junior college level.
"I was honestly shocked," said Walker on winning the award. "First of all, I didn't know that was an award so it wasn't on my radar or a goal or anything like that. I know that I had a couple of great seasons at Clovis [Community] and I really did change their program. I was just proud of that, so to get the recognition for that nationally is super exciting."
A Fresno native, Walker was a standout at Fresno High School prior to enrolling at Clovis Community College in the fall of 2023. During her time as a member of the Crush cross country and track & field program, Walker rewrote the record book during her historic career. She captured four total 3C2A State Championships, highlighted by the women's individual cross country crown in 2024, a season in which she was undefeated on the course. She earned a total of seven All-America honors, and led her teams to three conference titles, two regional championships, and a pair of 3C2A State podium finishes.
Academically, Walker completed her time at Clovis Community with a 3.94 GPA as a kinesiology major. She finished her career at Clovis Community by being named the 2024-25 DLC ISE Female Student-Athlete of the Year and was also recognized as the 2025 3C2A Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Walker is celebrated as the most decorated athlete in Clovis Community College history. Outside of her athletic achievements, Walker excelled in the classroom as well. Some of her academic achievements include: 2025 Magna Cum Laude Graduate, Four-time Clovis Community College Dean's List, 2024 Kiwanis 'Torch of Excellence' Chancellor's Award of Distinction, and 2024 Torch of Excellence President's Scholar.
It was always a dream to compete at Fresno State, but when the offer didn't come through her path took her to Clovis Community. After two years there and her success on the track, she was offered a scholarship to compete at Fresno State.
"I think that the Valley gets a bad reputation or that there are cooler places in California, but I love the Valley and I love the people here," added Walker on staying home. "It means a lot for me to be able to show that we are doing something good and I get to be a part of that. So many people are proud of me."
In her first season at Fresno State, Walker has not let up. She made an immediate impact in the indoor track season when she set the program record in the indoor 5,000 with a time of 17:15.29 and had the No. 5 time all-time in the 3,000 with a time of 10:00.28.
In her first outdoor season, she clocked the program's No. 4 time all-time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:44.30.
She earned Academic All-Mountain West honors in the fall with the awards still to be released for the spring.
This summer has already been an exciting one for the Bulldog. Not only is she preparing for next season, but she celebrated her marriage in May.
"I have been setting up a house, learning to be a wife, and things like that. This summer has been busy but I am excited for training," said Walker on her summer. "We get to go to Mammoth again this year. I do have high goals for this next season. It is my last season so there is some unfinished business that I have in mind."
Walker is set to graduate next spring with her degree in exercise science. From there, she wants to move on and put her focus towards being a physical therapy assistant.
The award recognizes the top male and female two-year athletes from around the country. Walker, who transferred to Fresno State from Clovis Community, earned the award for her success at the junior college level.
"I was honestly shocked," said Walker on winning the award. "First of all, I didn't know that was an award so it wasn't on my radar or a goal or anything like that. I know that I had a couple of great seasons at Clovis [Community] and I really did change their program. I was just proud of that, so to get the recognition for that nationally is super exciting."
A Fresno native, Walker was a standout at Fresno High School prior to enrolling at Clovis Community College in the fall of 2023. During her time as a member of the Crush cross country and track & field program, Walker rewrote the record book during her historic career. She captured four total 3C2A State Championships, highlighted by the women's individual cross country crown in 2024, a season in which she was undefeated on the course. She earned a total of seven All-America honors, and led her teams to three conference titles, two regional championships, and a pair of 3C2A State podium finishes.
Academically, Walker completed her time at Clovis Community with a 3.94 GPA as a kinesiology major. She finished her career at Clovis Community by being named the 2024-25 DLC ISE Female Student-Athlete of the Year and was also recognized as the 2025 3C2A Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Walker is celebrated as the most decorated athlete in Clovis Community College history. Outside of her athletic achievements, Walker excelled in the classroom as well. Some of her academic achievements include: 2025 Magna Cum Laude Graduate, Four-time Clovis Community College Dean's List, 2024 Kiwanis 'Torch of Excellence' Chancellor's Award of Distinction, and 2024 Torch of Excellence President's Scholar.
It was always a dream to compete at Fresno State, but when the offer didn't come through her path took her to Clovis Community. After two years there and her success on the track, she was offered a scholarship to compete at Fresno State.
"I think that the Valley gets a bad reputation or that there are cooler places in California, but I love the Valley and I love the people here," added Walker on staying home. "It means a lot for me to be able to show that we are doing something good and I get to be a part of that. So many people are proud of me."
In her first season at Fresno State, Walker has not let up. She made an immediate impact in the indoor track season when she set the program record in the indoor 5,000 with a time of 17:15.29 and had the No. 5 time all-time in the 3,000 with a time of 10:00.28.
In her first outdoor season, she clocked the program's No. 4 time all-time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:44.30.
She earned Academic All-Mountain West honors in the fall with the awards still to be released for the spring.
This summer has already been an exciting one for the Bulldog. Not only is she preparing for next season, but she celebrated her marriage in May.
"I have been setting up a house, learning to be a wife, and things like that. This summer has been busy but I am excited for training," said Walker on her summer. "We get to go to Mammoth again this year. I do have high goals for this next season. It is my last season so there is some unfinished business that I have in mind."
Walker is set to graduate next spring with her degree in exercise science. From there, she wants to move on and put her focus towards being a physical therapy assistant.
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