UCLA Men's Track & Field Announces 2011 Signees

Men's Track & Field Announces 2011 National Letter-Of-Intent Signees
Bruins sign talented crop of freshmen in Maynard's second season with UCLA



Feb. 7, 2011


Head men's track and field coach Mike Maynard has announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters-of-Intent with the Bruins. The class includes the top shot and discus throwers in California, a World Junior Championship Bronze Medalist and several standout distance runners. Nathaniel Cushing-Murray, Sean Grumney, Marcus Nilsson, Nicholas Scarvelis, Sergey Sushchikh and Lane Werley will begin their Bruin careers in the fall.

"For the second straight year our staff has done an excellent job of securing another top recruiting class," said Maynard. "These young men will bring their excellence, excitement and drive to win to the Bruin Track and Field and Cross Country squads. I am particularly pleased at the strength of this class across the event groups. While we have a few more to add in the coming weeks and months, I believe this class is top notch."

Marcus Nilsson hails from Sweden and was the bronze medalist in the decathlon at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Moncton, Canada, where he scored 7751 points with the junior implements/hurdles. Nilsson scored 7318 points with the international implements in 2010 in Tallinn, Estonia. He is an exceptionally talented athlete, with huge future potential. Marcus will be an impact at the NCAA level, as he is a proven big meet competitor. He brings further strength to the decathlon group and the Bruin Track and Field team. Nilsson has top marks of 11.30 in the 100m, 49.54 in the 400m, 4:19.20 in the 1500m, 14.75 in the 110m hurdles (99.0 cm), 15.27 in the international 110m hurdles, 6-3.50 in the high jump, 15-1 in the pole vault, 47-9 in the 6kg shot put, 42-1.25 in the shot (international implement), 148-3 in the 1.75 kg disc, 131-8 disc (international implement) and 182-3 in the javelin.

Will Parsons (La Habra HS) is the top returning discus thrower in California after finishing sixth at the state meet in 2010 with a personal-best throw of 181-9. Parsons was also the CA Southern Section Masters champion and CA Southern Section Div. II champion. He also has a top 25-lb weight throw mark of 50-6.25 in 2011.

Not only did the Bruins sign the top returning discus thrower in the state, but they also snagged the top returning shot putter and No. 2 returning discus thrower in Nicholas Scarvelis (Dos Pueblos HS/Goleta, CA). Scarvelis had a top shot mark of 60-10.50 and disc mark of 181-8. He was fifth at the state meet in the shot put last season.

Lane Werley (King HS/Riverside, CA) is one of the top distance recruits in the country. He had a monster senior cross country season to go with a solid junior track season. He is a hardworking, dedicated athlete with a tremendous upside. He is a team player who will be a star on the NCAA scene very soon. Werley was third at the CA State Div. I Cross Country Championships with a 5k course time of 14:45.00 and was sixth at the Nike Team National Cross Country Meet. In 2010 track, he had a top 3200m time of 9:02.44 (No. 12 in California) and placed ninth at the state meet. He has been an all-american in both track/cross country.

Sergey Sushchikh (Dos Pueblos HS/Goleta) had a break out cross country season this past fall, placing fifth at the Division III Cross country State Championships and 28th at the Foot Locker National Meet. He will focus on the longer distances and looks to be a force during the cross country season. He has top times of 4:29.20 in the 1600m and 9:31.70 in the 2-mile.

Nathaniel Cushing-Murray (Foothill HS) is a rising star who has just started to realize how good he can be. He is a legacy athlete whose father, Christian, was a standout distance runner for the Bruins. Nathaniel will add depth to a very good young group of athletes. He placed fourth at the Division III California Cross Country Championships, was third at the 2010 state meet (15:15) and competed at the Foot Locker West Regional. He also has top times of 4:23 in the 1600m and 9:39.18 in the two-mile.

Sean Grumney (Newbery Park HS) is a long distance runner with a top cross country 5k time of 15:40.98, top 800m time of 1:52.09, top 1500m time of 4:07.12, top 1600m time of 4:21.44 and top mile time of 4:22.75.

Courtesy UCLA