No bikes necessary: Team Cream, Los Corredores claim victory at Little 50

Delta Gamma suffered a pre-race penalty of five seconds, but given the performance of Team Cream, an independent team, it hardly mattered.

Team Cream sped to victory in 67:50 in the women’s race of the ninth annual Little Fifty in front of a boisterous crowd in the lower grandstand.

The women of Alpha Chi Omega and Delta Zeta got off to early leads during the first few minutes. At the 10-minute mark, however, Cream captured the lead and never looked back.

Approximately seven minutes later, it had stretched its lead to about 55 meters. After another seven minutes, Team Cream doubled its lead over Team Crimson, another independent team. After 20 laps, Team Cream had a 200-meter lead.

At the halfway mark, 70 meters stood between Team Cream lapping second-place Team Crimson.

By the end of lap 30, Team Cream putting Team Crimson a lap down looked inevitable. On lap 32, it happened. From that point on, it was but all over. Team Cream kept its collective foot on the gas, placing Team Crimson two laps off the pace in the final laps, and cruised to victory.

“It was exciting,” runner Emily Weisbard said. “Last year, this team got second. Crimson got first. They got second this year. It’s exciting that we both had a chance to win.”

Los Corredores lead every lap except for one in the early stages of the men’s race. They claimed their second consecutive victory in record-breaking fashion, winning in 53:16 and establishing a new record by about a minute, runner Michael Nussa said.

“We wanted to do what we knew what we were capable of doing,” Nussa said. “If a win came with it, that was great. Obviously it did, so we’re really pumped.”

Los Corredores’ victory earned IU Running Club a Little Fifty sweep. Both Los Corredores and Team Cream are members.

“The club is a great way for people to work out together. When we have a big group of people pushing each other, it helps you get faster.”