The UCLA men’s and women’s track teams are heading out of the state this weekend for a pair of indoor invitationals. The women’s team travels to New York to compete in the New Balance Collegiate Invitational today and Saturday, while the men visit Flagstaff, Ariz., for the Northern Arizona University Team Challenge Saturday.
This weekend serves as the season opener for both squads with the exception of a few athletes who have seen some preseason competition already.
The men’s team will see the debut of freshmen Randall Carroll and Sheldon Price, both members of the football team. In addition, the NAU Team Challenge will not have distance events, so senior distance runner Marco Anzures and the rest of the distance squad will have to wait to open the 2010 season.
Fifth-year senior Kevin Craddock returns for his final season after redshirting last season because of an injury. In 2008, Craddock won the West Region title with a new meet record of 13.47 in the 110-meter hurdles.
On the women’s side, the Bruins will debut with 2009 All-Americans, sophomore hurdler and jumper Ryann Krais, senior long jumper Danielle Watson and junior pole vaulter Tori Anthony.
Both teams will be looking to set NCAA qualifying marks early on the season.
Men’s squad signs two recruits
The Bruins signed two high school seniors ““ thrower Alec Faldermeyer and pole vaulter Mike Woepse ““ to letters of intent for next season. Faldermeyer, from Minisink Valley High School in State Hill, N.Y., leads all high school throwers with a 63-3.25 mark in the 35-pound shot put.
A local product from Tustin, Woepse starts his senior year at Mater Dei High School after winning the pole vault at last year’s Arcadia Invitational with a mark of 16 feet, 9 inches, which turned out to be the fifth best the nation.
Compiled by Farzad Mashhood, Bruin Sports senior staff.