Track teammates cohost video blog series

Teammates, roommates, and now, co-hosts: since the launch of the track and field team’s video blog series, “Trackside,” junior hammer thrower Alec Faldermeyer and junior pole vaulter Mike Woepse have added a new dimension to their friendship.

The duo started co-hosting the show last season at the suggestion of their coach, Mike Maynard, who wanted to follow the trend of other UCLA teams’ video blogs hosted by student-athletes.

“Our sophomore year, we were approached by our coach, and he said that a lot of the teams do video blogs, like women’s volleyball does ‘The Reeves Report,’ and they wanted to do one for track. Mike (Woepse) and I got picked, and that’s how it kind of started,” Faldermeyer said.

Woepse said he believes that his and Faldermeyer’s good rapport with the team and their leadership positions made them the right candidates in their coach’s eyes. In addition to that, their statuses as sophomores last season meant they could be groomed in the position over multiple years.

“He knew that we knew the team well … and we were the captains last year, and we were young guys, I think they wanted to pick younger guys that could maybe do it for a couple of years instead of just the older guys who could only be there for a year,” Woepse said.

The videos, located on the UCLA track and field website, provide weekly updates on the Bruins’ season, with some episodes guest starring team members who have performed well over the previous weekend. “Trackside” also gives the team a chance to address the student body, which has proven useful for publicizing home meets. Other than students, the videos also target Bruin alumni, especially since they may not have the same resources for keeping up with UCLA sports that active students have access to.

“We talk about the meet we just had, the big performances, and then we always try to push the next meet we’re having. If it’s a home meet we try to advertise it, we try to get as many people out to the home meets as possible, even, you know, meets like the ’SC one that we just had. … Plus I know the alumni like it a lot,” Faldermeyer said.

Other than the dream of becoming ESPN analysts, Faldermeyer and Woepse don’t see their experiences with “Trackside” directly tying in with any of their career aspirations. But they will continue with their “Trackside” duties, knowing that the reaction to the effort they’ve put into the series has been positive.

“We just try to have fun with it, and the people have liked it, so we have to keep doing it. But I don’t think either of us are really thinking about being on TV,” Woepse said.

Sophomore pole vaulter Mark Sakioka also sees student-athlete led video blogs as a chance for the student population to see another side of the team.

“I feel like each blog gives each team a certain personality. Like when you watch ‘The Reeves Report’ and stuff like that, you kind of feel like it’s a more intimate setting with the team, and you get to know them a little bit better,” Sakioka said.

“Trackside” has also developed into a useful resource for parents of the Bruin track and field athletes to keep up with the progress of their sons and daughters.

“I think it’s exciting,” said redshirt sophomore thrower Derek Eager. “My parents watch it; that’s how they keep up on track because I’m from Seattle, so my parents go on every week and check out the video, see how we’re doing.”