UCLA track and field athletes typically spend the first quarter of their final collegiate season training at Drake Stadium.
But senior Shawn Toney spent it almost 6,000 miles away.
The hurdler/sprinter chose to step away from the typical schedule to pursue an opportunity few Division I athletes take by studying abroad in Madrid, Spain.
The Los Altos, California, local has shone both on the track – finishing third in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2024 USC dual meet with a personal-best 52.94 – and in the classroom.
He was named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2025 and selected as UCLA men’s track and field representative on the 2024-25 All-Academic Team.
And with his academic prowess, Toney found himself studying abroad during the fall quarter of his senior year.
“I’m here for an experience. I shouldn’t be afraid to meet new people,” Toney said. “Last spring, I injured my hamstring pretty badly, so I knew that during the summer and a good chunk of fall, I wouldn’t be at the level that I wanted to be at for the fall training here at UCLA. … Going abroad gave me the opportunity to take a few classes that would work towards the master’s degree that I wanted to do next year.”
Track and field director Joanna Hayes said she encouraged him to take advantage of the opportunity.
With Toney facing a lengthy recovery timeline and balancing long-term academic goals, Hayes said she supported his choice to prioritize personal growth and future preparation during a period when his physical development would be limited.
“Shawn Toney is a very intelligent man,” Hayes said. “Going abroad will help him, open doors for him, show him new parts of the world and make connections that can change your life. His future has to come first, so it was an easy decision for me. Everything is not surrounded by athletics. College is a time when you really need to find out what you want to do with your life. You’re going to make mistakes, try new things, meet new people.”
Toney said the value of going abroad often comes from the ability to experience college in a new and unfamiliar place, forcing people to step out of their comfort zones and embrace new perspectives.
Additionally, Toney said he found that the courses offered would help him pursue his future master’s degree, especially since he had already completed a majority of his business economics classes at UCLA.
To heal the hamstring injury he sustained last year, Toney said he asked a trainer at a local gym for a referral to find professional recovery support in Madrid. He was referred to a facility where he was given exercises similar to those he did during his rehabilitation period at UCLA. Toney said he met with the trainer multiple times each week and also consistently ran throughout Madrid to stay in shape.
“Shawn is really admirable in the sense that he is great at managing his time and managing his workload,” said Armaan Hedayati, Toney’s high school friend and roommate abroad. “He was doing school, living in a new country and prioritizing his recovery and keeping up with his practices. He would go on runs around the city and work out every day.”
Living abroad meant Toney was away from his teammates and usual workouts, which facilitated internal progress, he said. Training shifted from group sessions to heightened individual accountability, Toney said, adding that the distance from Westwood also created space to reassess timelines and expectations during his final undergraduate year.
Returning to UCLA, Hayes said Toney reintegrated into team training with a renewed focus on communication and long-term health. The experience abroad did not replace his identity as a competitor, but reframed it, blending patience with preparation as he now navigates his collegiate career’s closing chapter, Toney said.
“Being out there in Madrid and having a lot of time to reflect on myself and where I’m at with everything gave me more of a peace of mind where I was with my injury and recovery,” Toney said. “I’m redshirting the indoor season right now, getting back into the swing of things, building my base, and that momentum will carry on to the outdoor season.”
Toney said his Madrid experience fostered athletic, academic and individual growth, despite occurring on a completely different continent.
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