July 13, 2009

DAVIS, Calif. - The UC Davis men's and women's cross country and track and field teams have signed 11 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, it was announced this week. The women's teams combined to sign seven student-athletes. All 11 are expected to enroll at UC Davis for the fall quarter of 2009.

The signees, in alphabetical order, are Blake Asbill of Carlsbad High School, Jesse Arellano of Madera High School, Kayla Carter of Lodi High School, Melanise Chapman of Paraclete High School, Shanie Landen of Clovis St. Francis High School, Carrington Mahr of Buchanan High School, Michael Peterson of Clovis East High School, Leslie Reed of Hercules High School, Steven Scarvelis of Dos Pueblos High School, Kaio Sena of Pinole Valley High School, and Sarah Tusting of Benicia High School.

Below is a brief bio of each signee, listed alphabetically, and a quote from members of the Aggie coaching staff:

Blake Asbill (Carlsbad, Calif./Carlsbad HS)
Four-year varsity thrower at Carlsbad High School... Won 2009 CIF San Diego Section title in shot put with distance of 58 feet, 7 inches... Named Palomar League Field Athlete of the Year for his efforts... Nabbed first-team All-North County and all-league honors during final two seasons... Finished second at sections as a junior and third as a sophomore... Was a team MVP.

"Blake will be a tremendous addition to the program. He will be a physical and intense competitor for UC Davis in the shot put and hammer." Assistant Coach Tim Fua.

Jesse Arellano (Madera, Calif./Madera HS)
Was a state qualifier in cross country as well as the 800- and 1,600-meter runs for the Madera High School track team... Named track team MVP in 2008 and MHS Male Athlete of the Year in 2009... Earned All-Tri-River Athletic Conference (TRAC) during final two cross country seasons... Member of back-to-back MHS Central Coast Section championship teams in 2005 and 2006.

"Jesse has a solid background in cross country while also possessing a good amount of natural speed. He will bring good potential to both cross country and the middle-distance events on the track." Head Cross Country Coach Drew Wartenburg.

Kayla Carter (Lodi, Calif./Lodi HS)
Competed in cross country and hurdle events on the track and field team at Lodi High School... Finished second in the 100 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles at CIF-Sac-Joaquin Sections as a senior... Was also in the top three in each event at the CIF Masterís Meet... Named team MVP for her efforts... Qualified for the state meet in the 300 for the past two seasons... Placed second in 100 hurdles at sections as a junior... Won league title in both events during final two seasons... Helped cross country and track and field teams to league titles.

"Kayla will add depth to a solid group of hurdlers next season. She has run 14.18 in the 100 hurdles and 43.43 in the 300 hurdles. She currently holds the Lodi HS record in the 100." - Associate Head Coach Byron Talley.

Melanise Chapman (Lancaster, Calif./Paraclete HS)
Was a standout sprinter and basketball player at Paraclete High School... Won CIF-Southern Section title in the 100 in a personal-best time of 11.66w... Finished third in the event at the CID Master's Meet and ninth at the state championships... Runner-up in 200 at sections in 24.21w... Also qualified for masters and state meet, finishing fourth and sixth, respectively... Ran anchor leg of 400 relay team that finished fifth at the state meet... Earned All-Alpha League honors during final two basketball seasons with a double-digit scoring average.... Is a member of the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation.

"Melanise ran 11.66w in the 100 and 24.21w in the 200 this year. She will be a great asset to the Aggies next season in the sprints and relays" Head Women's Coach Deanne Vochatzer.

Shanie Landen (Sunnyvale, Calif./Saint Francis HS)
Starred in soccer and track and field at Saint Francis High School... Placed third in the 400 at Central Coast Sections in 56.90... Ran on second-place 400 and 800 relay teams at sections... Qualified for state championship meet in 400... Helped soccer team win Division III CCS title as a junior... Soccer team won Western Catholic League championship in her senior season....Named a scholar-athlete.

"Shanie will be the next in a long line of strong competitors to come to UC Davis from Saint Francis High School. She will run both the 200 and 400 as well as the long relay." - Head Women's Coach Deanne Vochatzer.

Carrington Mahr (Clovis, Calif./Buchanan HS)
Standout jumper at Buchanan High School... Competed in the high jump and triple jump at the state championships during final two seasons... Finished third in the high jump and triple jump at the 2009 CIF-Central Section meet... Named to the Fresno Bee All-Star teams... Named team MVP as a junior... Also competed in the 400... Member of the California Scholastic Federation.

"Carrington comes from a long line of talented high jumpers out of Buchanan High School. She will bring her ability to perform in all of the jumps when she joins our team next year." - Head Men's Coach Jon Vochatzer.

Leslie Reed (Hercules, Calif./Hercules HS)
Ran sprint events at Hercules High School... Captured at least one Alameda/Contra Costa Athletic League (ACCAL) title during all four seasons... Won 100 as a freshman, 200 as a sophomore and both as a junior and senior... Competed in the 2009 Simplot Games (Indoor) in the 60 and 200, finishing second in both events... Is a member of the Principalís Honor Roll.

"Leslie comes to us after having run a spectacular indoor season. She ran a 7.71 in the 60 and 24.63 in the 200 at the Simplot Games this past winter. She will be a tough competitor and a hard worker for the Aggies in the sprints and relays." - Head Women's Coach Deanne Vochatzer.

Michael Peterson (Clovis, Calif./Clovis East HS)
Competed in cross country and in the pole vault at Clovis East High School... Won CIF-Central Coast Section title in pole vault as a senior... Finished second at the state championships to help lead Clovis East to a tie for the state title... Cleared a personal-best 16-0 to win theTri-River Athletic Conference (TRAC) and section championships... Named to the Fresno Bee All-State Team... Was seventh in the pole vault at the state meet and section at the section meet as a junior... Older brother Jonathan is also a member of the UC Davis cross country and track and field teams.

"Originally a distance runner, Michael has found his niche in the pole vault. He placed second in the CIF State Championships. He will join a young group of talented vaulters at UC Davis." - Associate Head Coach Byron Talley.

Steven Scarvelis (Santa Barbara, Calif./Dos Pueblos HS)
Competed in the 300 hurdles and 400 at DPHS... Finished third in 400 at 2008 CIF Southern Sections... Was 5th in 300 hurdles at sections... Set school record of 38.53 in 300 hurdles... Excels academically as member of National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation.

"Steven is a multi-talented athlete, having already scored very well in his first decathlon in December of 2007. Steven will be introduced to the multi events and will add more depth to the 400 hurdles next year." - Head Men's Coach Jon Vochatzer.

Kaio Sena (Pinole, Calif./Pinole Valley HS)
Starred in football and track and field at Pinole Valley High School... Won back-to-back Alameda/Contra Coast Athletic League titles in 200 and 400 relay... Added a 100 league title as a senior and was named team MVP... Finished third in the 100 and fourth in the 200 at the 2009 CIF-Bay Shore Area North Coast Section championships... Served as a team captain for the football team as a senior... Was a member of the 2007 football team that made the section finals.

"Kaio has run 10.74 in the 100 and 21.97 in the 200. He is an important part of the talented base of young sprinters at UC Davis." - Head Men's Coach Jon Vochatzer.

Sarah Tusting (Benicia, Calif./Benicia HS)
Competed in cross country and track and field at Benicia High School... Took first in 3,200 at 2009 CIF Master's Meet... Helped Benicia win a total of four Solano County Athletic Conference championships, three of them in cross country... Finished second at Division II CIF-Sac-Joaquin Sections as a senior and 15th state championships... League champion one-mile and two-mile... Owns a perfect 4.0 GPA and is a member of the yearbook staff and Key Club.

"After a breakout cross country season, Sarah has continued her development on the track in the 1,600 and 200... Her good range and room for further improvement will allow her to fit immediately into the womenís distance group at UC Davis." - Head Cross Country Coach Drew Wartenburg.

UC Davis Aggies Track & Field

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