Former top teams falter in Little 500 qualifications

The last time senior Cutters rider Erik Hamilton and his teammates competed in a Little 500 cycling event, they ended up raising the first-place trophy in triumph. But after earning a starting position of 13th at qualifications Saturday, the only things being raised are eyebrows.\n“You want to be in a good position,” Hamilton said. “We faulted on our first attempt, so we naturally went a little slower on the second run. But when all is said and done, I don’t think quals is all that important as long as you get in the race. It might just take an extra lap or two to get to the front.”\nBut while the Cutters might have qualified lower than expected, they are not alone. Other traditionally strong teams such as Phi Gamma Delta, Dodds House and Black Key Bulls will begin the race in the 14th, 16th and 17th starting positions, respectively. All four teams finished last year’s Little 500 in the top seven overall.\n“If a strong team does not qualify that well, it does not mean they are in that much trouble for the race,” junior Phi Gamma Delta rider Cliff Boeglin said. “We’ll probably be working together to get up to the front, and I would guess that after a few laps things will pretty much be back to normal ... the strong teams will be at the front of the pack and whatever happens, happens.”\nThe weather was an issue for teams early Saturday morning – all four teams had their first runs before 9:30 a.m. – but the wind died down drastically as the morning progressed.\nJunior Dodds House rider Mike Sherer said the poor racing conditions played a large part in how his team fared. \n“The wind was the biggest factor,” Sherer said. “You probably had 15-mile-an-hour winds on the backstretch, which made lap times extremely slow. It was a little bit frustrating but there was nothing we could do about it.” \nIn terms of exchanges and overall speed, some teams decided to take a more conservative approach during qualifications. Some teams focused more on the completing of exchanges rather than the speed of the handoffs, in hopes of not faulting on their first or second attempt. \n“Definitely on your second try you want to go a little slower,” junior Black Key Bulls rider Isaac Neff said. “You always go a little more conservative in the exchanges, which could hurt you in the long run but will at least get you in the race.” \nDespite having to start the race farther back than expected, the riders said starting positions will not affect how well they ride. \n“I think qualifications on a large scale are overrated,” sophomore Phi Gamma Delta rider Ryan Weisberger said. “It is definitely something that we will have to push through and it may be a little more difficult, but no I do not think it will be too hard. If you are a good team, you are going to be able to get into position in the first four laps anyway.” \nNeff said that during his freshman year his team qualified 22nd but it did not hinder how they finished in the race. \n“It didn’t really affect us,” Neff said. “We were able to get to the front pretty quick and I think it will be the same way this year.”