Women’s field ‘pretty open’ entering qualifications

Last year’s women’s Little 500 race was decided by mere inches. But if you ask any of the women preparing for Saturday’s qualifications, this year’s race could be more of a tossup.\n“A lot of the girls are very evenly matched,” said senior Trevy Ramos, a rider for Alpha Phi. “In years past I think it was more obvious. There were one or two or three strong teams out there.”\nThis year, though, it could be one of several teams. \n“It’s a little more up in the air this year than it has been in the past,” said senior Megan Mueller, a rider for Phi Mu. “We’ll probably be surprised by a few people. It’s a pretty open field.”\n When the 32 women’s teams take the track Saturday at Bill Armstrong Stadium, they will be fighting for the green jersey, which signifies the pole position for the April 20 race.\nSome of the teams favored to make noise this year include defending champion Kappa Kappa Gamma, last year’s runner-up Kappa Delta, four-time winners Kappa Alpha Theta, last year’s third-place finisher Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Phi and Wright Cycledelics. \nRamos said her primary concern is the safety of her team, and she has not set a specific goal for Alpha Phi. \n“Of course we want to qual well, but if we don’t get pole I’m not going to be like, ‘bad team,’” Ramos said. “You kind of hope for the best. You never want to set something like, ‘We want to get third,’ and then you don’t make it and then you’re discouraged. That’s stupid. You should just want to do your best, not set a goal that might not be attainable.”\nThis year’s qualifications might be more dangerous than others. Since a slew of seniors graduated last year, rookie riders comprise a large portion of the field. \nOne rookie, Alpha Omicron Pi junior Brittani Hensel, said she is nervous about falling during the exchange. \n“Everyone’s been telling me, ‘Don’t be afraid of the bike,’” Hensel said. “That’s the biggest thing I’ve heard from everyone. If you’re afraid of it, if you’re timid, that’s when you’re going to have the most problems. If you just go out and do it, you’re going to do a lot better.”\nVeteran riders have been doing their best to calm the nerves of the rookies, Ramos said. But she said veterans can’t do much to influence the emotions that come on the track.\n“I always assumed Little 500 was this huge thing,” she said, “and then when (the rookies) go to the first meetings, (IUSF officials) say, ‘Oh it’s just an intramural race. This is supposed to be for amateurs.’ Even if they don’t think it’s serious, the riders take it very seriously.”