UCLA Men's Track & Field Signs Two of the Nation's Best to National Letters-of-Intent

Men's Track & Field Signs Two of the Nation's Best to National Letters-of-Intent
Mike Woepse and Alex Faldermeyer will join the Bruins in the Fall of 2010.


Feb. 3, 2010


LOS ANGELES - Head men's track & field coach Mike Maynard has announced the signing of two of America's top prep athletes to National Letters-of-Intent. Thrower Alec Faldermeyer and pole vaulter Mike Woepse have signed on to don the blue and gold of UCLA this Fall.

"The coaches and I believe that the addition of Faldermeyer and Woepse to our team hails the return of UCLA as a top NCAA track and field program," said Maynard. "Both of these athletes will have a huge impact on the future of UCLA track and field, and our ability to win championships."

Faldermeyer (Minisink Valley HS/State Hill, NY) entered the 2010 indoor season as the top returning weight thrower in the U.S. with a top mark of 79-7.25. He has tried his hand at the 35-lb weight (college level implement) this season and currently ranks No. 1 with a mark of 63-3.25. Faldermeyer ended the 2009 outdoor season with the No. 2 hammer mark in the U.S. (232-7).

Woepse (Tustin, CA/Mater Dei HS) is the top returning pole vaulter in the country. As a freshman, he cleared 14-9, then 16-2 as a sophomore, and then as a junior, won the Arcadia Invite with a top mark of 16-7. In 2009, Woepse had a top outdoor mark of 16-9, which ranked fifth in the U.S. that year.

"Mike has much to offer our program," said jumps/vault coach Anthony Curran. "He is 6'2," 175lbs. He is physically strong and mentally tough and competes with vigor and passion."

Woepse comes from a family of vaulters. His dad, Greg Woepse Sr., was a great collegiate vaulter attending San Jose State with a collegiate best mark of 18-0. He also competed in the Olympic Trials in 1980 and 1984, and was the Silver medalist at the Pan American Games in 1979. His post-collegiate personal-best was 18-5. Mike's older brother, Greg Jr., was a high school standout as well, vaulting 16-7, and earned a scholarship to UCLA. Greg was third at the Pac-10 championships as a freshman at 17-0 and was an NCAA finalist last year. He has a best mark of 17-5 at UCLA. His sister, Elizabeth, was a four-time CIF champion in high school and was also a Bruin vaulter from 2004-2008 with a top vault of 13-0. Mike will surely continue this great Woepse tradition of success here at UCLA. Since Greg had a redshirt year in 2007, Mike and Greg will be teammates for the first time in 2011.

"We are extremely pleased with our recruiting class on the whole," added Maynard. "In addition to the big two, we are excited to have the commitment of many great signees who as they develop will continue the legacy of Bruin T&F."

Courtesy UCLA