After competing in Miss N Out on Friday night, Little 500 teams returned to Bill Armstrong Stadium on Saturday morning for Team Pursuit. As the final “Spring Series” event before “The World's Greatest College Weekend” on April 24-25, Team Pursuit gave every team its last chance to see potential strategies before race day.
Two teams of four riders started in the second and fourth turns, with the time trial lasting 15 laps. The team’s time was recorded when the third rider crossed the finish line. The fastest two teams advanced to a championship race, with the quickest time winning the event.
On the men’s side, CUTTERS continued its domination of the “Spring Series,” defeating Sigma Alpha Epsilon in the championship race. CUTTERS finished with a time of 9 minutes, 01.74 seconds to advance to the final and take first place with a time of 9:00.12.
Seniors Judah Thompson, Jacob Zarov and Jacob Koone, plus freshman Leo Nelson, helped CUTTERS sweep the “Spring Series.” The team finished first in qualifications and retained last year's Team Pursuit title, while Thompson took home first at Individual Time Trials and Miss N Out.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon seniors Lucas Lemme and Rhett Skvarna, junior Matthew Naas and freshman Charlie Naas helped their team finish second after claiming the runner-up position last year. Sigma Alpha Epsilon qualified for the final with a time of 9:06.59 but faltered in the final by finishing at a 9:12.69 mark.
After finishing fifth at qualifications, Black Key Bulls showed improvement against other teams, but a time of 9:09.18 was not enough to advance to the finals by 2.19 seconds. Juniors Wiley Close and Brady Larkin, plus seniors Paul Lee and Zack Villarreal, contributed to the third-place time for last year’s Little 500 champion.
Sigma Phi Epsilon placed fourth with a time of 9:11.28 and Phi Gamma Delta was fifth with a timing of 9:15.49. In total, 18 out of 28 men’s teams completed the event in under 10 minutes, while Avir Cycling was the only team over 11 minutes, resulting in a last place finish with a time of 11:07.60.
Twenty-four teams competed in the women’s side of the event, with Teter coming in first place with a time of 10:01.87. Alpha Chi Omega qualified for the final with 10:18.07, faster than Teter’s 10:18.47. However, the reigning champions were bypassed in the final after recording a time of 10:10.22.
Seniors Leila Faraday — who finished third at Miss N Out — Seneca Simon, Lydia Casiano and sophomore Jenna Greenberg aided in Teter avenging their second-place result in last year’s event. Teter also finished second at qualifications behind Kappa Alpha Theta.
Sophomore Libby Lewis won Miss N Out for Alpha Chi Omega on Friday and helped her sorority finish second on Saturday with teammates senior Ellie Marsella, plus juniors MaryClaire Swanson and Emma Nelson. As a team, Alpha Chi Omega finished in third place at qualifications.
Kappa Alpha Theta came in first at qualifications but finished in third during Team Pursuit with a time of 10:21.26. Seniors Claire Tips and Greta Weeks, junior Greta Heyl and sophomore Meg Dimmett placed 2.49 seconds behind second.
Behind Kappa Alpha Theta, Novus Cycling finished fourth with a time of 10:27.47. The team of senior Maria Lopez Andonegui, juniors Ada Brandstetter and Bea Burton and sophomore Maggie Williams improved on a 10th-place finish at qualifications. Behind Novus was Delta Gamma in fifth place with a time of 10:32.72.
With the “Spring Series” concluded, riders will next hit the track on April 24-25 for the 38th and 75th running of the women’s and men’s races, respectively. The women’s race will take place at 4 p.m. April 24, while the men’s race will be held at 2 p.m. April 25.
Men’s championship and top five
1. CUTTERS — 9:00.12 (9:01.74)
2. Sigma Alpha Epsilon — 9:12.69 (9:06.59)
3. Black Key Bulls — 9:09.18
4. Sigma Phi Epsilon — 9:11.28
5. Phi Gamma Delta — 9:15.49
Women’s championship and top five
1. Teter — 10:01.87 (10:18.07)
2. Alpha Chi Omega — 10:10.22 (10:18.47)
3. Kappa Alpha Theta — 10:21.36
4. Novus Cycling — 10:27.47
5. Delta Gamma — 10:32.72
Editor’s note: Leila Faraday previously worked at the IDS.
