Athletes from men and women’s track and field teams to compete in Mt. SAC Relays

Three members from the UCLA track and field team will be competing in the Mt. SAC Relays this weekend in Walnut. Junior Turquoise Thompson will represent the women’s team in the 400m hurdles while sophomores Alec Faldermeyer and Mike Woepse will represent the men in the hammer throw and pole vault, respectively.

Men’s coach Mike Maynard is looking at this weekend as a tune-up for the quickly approaching Pac-12 meets, which are just three weeks away.

“This meet is a big stepping stone toward the championship season,” Maynard said. “This meet and the USC dual meet are the last regular season competitions.”

Both Faldermeyer and Woepse have already had very successful seasons thus far. Faldermeyer is currently ranked No. 4 in the nation in the hammer throw and Woepse is ranked No. 2 in pole vault.

“They are not the type of people who will settle. This weekend they will be competing against the best collegiate athletes and world-class level athletes,” Maynard said.

“We are raising the level of competition to reset their goals and push their limits.”

Faldermeyer is looking forward to shining in one of the most important meets of the year.

“I’ve been waiting for this meet for a while. My technique is getting better. I’m stronger, older and more mature. I’m crazy excited,” Faldermeyer said.

Everything seems to be coming together for Faldermeyer this year, whose marks are the best that he has seen in his athletic career.

He is currently on a 2012 unbeaten streak and was recently named one of the Pac-12’s Athletes of the Week.

Like Faldermeyer, Woepse is also excited and looking forward to this weekend’s events.

“Mt. SAC is a whole other level. It will be really strong competition,” Woepse said.

“It keeps you sharp, striving and non-complacent. Meets like this really pushes you to new limits and motivates you.”

As Faldermeyer and Woepse look to improve and push the boundaries of their athleticism this weekend, Thompson is similarly hoping to break a personal record.

Thompson, who has struggled with injuries in the past, is happy to be healthy and is back on the top of her game. She, along with Faldermeyer, was named one of the Pac-12’s Athletes of the Week and is currently ranked No. 9 in the nation for the 400m hurdles.

After this weekend’s invitational, the UCLA men and women’s track team will host USC in their annual dual meet.