Track and field: Senior year over for Mater Dei’s Woepse

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Michael Woepseof Santa Ana Mater Dei, the nation’s top pole vaulter, said Wednesday his senior season is over after an MRI showed a partial tear of his hamstring.

‘It’s nothing too bad, but if I would try to jump, I could really tear it,’ he said.

Woepse said it will be three months before he might be back at full speed. He injured his hamstring at the Orange County championships last weekend. He said he intends to support Mater Dei’s other pole vaulters.

Woepse has signed with UCLA and is considered the No. 1 pole vault recruit in the nation. He has cleared 17 feet, 6 inches, and was hoping to shoot for 18 feet.

-- Eric Sondheimer