Cyclists focused as women’s race nears

After months of preparation, the riders for the women’s Little 500 said they look and feel ready for Friday.

“We’re just going through all of our strategy and all our scenarios,” said Kristen Metherd, captain of Kappa Alpha Theta. “We’re just focusing on everything we can do to win.”

At 4 p.m. Friday, 31 teams will compete in the women’s Little 500, a 100-lap race that has been part of the IU tradition since 1988.

Sonja Arnesen of Gamma Phi Beta said she felt ready for the event, for which she’s been training all semester.

“It comes up really fast in the end,” Arnesen said. “It’s nerve-wracking but really exciting at the same time.”

Arnesen said her teammates are as prepared as they can be for the race.

“There’s always things that can occur during the race that you’re not expecting, or little things that can throw you off,” she said. “Hopefully, we’re prepared for what comes.”

Metherd said the atmosphere of the race is unbelievable and greater than words can describe. But her team is looking to make the race as routine as possible.

“Our team just feels so ready for the race that it really just feels like any other day with a million other fans in the stands,” she said.

Metherd said winning the spring series adds pressure for her team to perform, but they are ready to do so.

“It hasn’t really set in yet that we’re wearing white on race day, which is pretty cool,” Metherd said. “We earned it.”

As a rookie, Kappa Delta rider Katie Laplant said she doesn’t really know what to expect.

“I only know what my teammates have told me,” Laplant said. “I’m sure it’s a lot different actually being out there. There’s a lot going on and a lot of distractions.”

Metherd said she is counting the minutes until the race.

“We’re just ready to go on Friday,” Metherd said. “It’s all we’ve been thinking about for the past year.”