310 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
The months of intense training are now over. All of the series events have been completed. For riders, today is finally the day. The 21st Women’s Little 500 is here. The much-anticipated event will begin at 4 p.m. at Bill Armstrong Stadium with 32 teams competing for the crown.
IU Foundation President Curt Simic still has cinders in his hands, knees and elbows from his first Little 500 riding experience almost 50 years ago – just a few of the impacts the race has had on his life that do not seem to go away. And don’t expect the impacts that Simic has had on the race, to go away any time soon either.
In the 20 years that women have been able to compete in the Little 500, only three sororities – Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Kappa Delta – have ever been crowned champion. This year, Delta Gamma wants to be added to the list.
With their original coach not having enough time to work with them and spring break quickly approaching, Gamma Phi Beta rider Sonja Arnesen knew she had only one choice. Call up her big brother, Hans.
Although Kappa Delta easily took the 2007 Little 500 crown, 2008 appears to be much different.
Hey, everyone. Just wanted to remind everyone that tomorrow our Little 500 Preview Guide will be coming out. In it, there will be features on particular teams and riders to watch for, as well as commentary and IDS predictions on who will win the race. Enough of that...now on to more "Burning Questions" for our riders:
Heading into this weekend’s Team Pursuit competition, both Teter and Cutters had large leads in the overall standings based on their individual performances. It was only fitting that they continued their reign on top with victories Saturday, establishing themselves as the best overall teams going into the Little 500.\nTeter took the women’s title with a 12-lap time of 8:08.28. Despite a hard-fought challenge by Kappa Delta in the finals, Teter was able to pull away late and secure the victory.\n“We had expected to do well because we know we have trained hard and put in time where it counts,” Teter freshman Caitlin Van Kooten said. “People really hung in there. We had a slow start, but we caught back up and got our heads back in it.”\nThough Kappa Delta did not win, senior Lauren Reynolds said that competing in Team Pursuit helped her team improve with just less than a week remaining before the race. \n“We found out how to talk,” Reynolds said. “There was a couple times where I couldn’t get out there and take the lead. I just communicated with the two rookies and they pulled through for us, so we know what we have with them.” \nFor the men, Cutters edged out Phi Kappa Psi with a time of 9:02.5. This was the second consecutive year that Cutters has claimed the Team Pursuit crown.\n“It couldn’t be better,” Cutters senior Paul Sigfusson said. “Both runs went really well for us and we are really happy with that. We were coming out here to see what we could do as a team and I think we did awesome.”\nAnother positive sign for Cutters come race day is the return of senior Erik Hamilton. Hamilton, who had a top three time in last year’s Individual Time Trials, missed the first two series events while recovering from knee surgery.\n“He did really well,” Cutters coach Jim Kirkham said. “He is getting faster and fitter every day after his knee surgery. It validates all of the hard work the team has done all winter and it is nice to get a reward for that.”\nPhi Kappa Psi senior David Schweer said despite not being victorious, his team felt good about their efforts in Team Pursuit.\n“We were happy to get to the finals,” Schweer said. “Our communication was really good. We were hurting half way through but we kept on fighting through and tried to compete. I think that was the best thing.”\nWith less than a week remaining before the Little 500 race, riders said that their Team Pursuit success helps provide the extra momentum that they need.\n“It feels great,” Teter junior Jackie Moeller said. “We have been training hard all year and it is great to see that our work is finally paying off. Hopefully we can stay strong and do well on race day.”\nSchweer said he feels good about his team’s performance thus far and believes his team will be ready for the race on Saturday.\n“It just shows that we are where we want to be fitness-wise,” Schweer said. “I feel very confident about where we stand in regards to the rest of the field. Everybody on our team is capable of taking over.”
Heading into this weekend’s Team Pursuit competition, both Teter and Cutters had large leads in the overall standings based on their individual performances. It was only fitting that they continued their reign on top with victories. VIDEO: Team Pursuit
Heading into this weekend’s Team Pursuit competition, both Teter and Cutters had large leads in the overall standings based on their individual performances. It was only fitting that they continued their reign on top with victories Saturday, establishing the them as the best overall teams going into the Little 500.\nTeter took the women’s title with a 12-lap time of 8:08.28. Despite a hard-fought challenge by Kappa Delta in the finals, Teter was able to pull away late and secure the victory.\n“We had expected to do well because we know we have trained hard and put in time where it counts,” Teter freshman Caitlin Van Kooten said. “People really hung in there. We had a slow start, but we caught back up and got our heads back in it.”\nThough Kappa Delta did not win, senior Lauren Reynolds said that competing in Team Pursuit helped her team improve with just less than a week remaining before the race. \n“We found out how to talk,” Reynolds said. “There was a couple times where I couldn’t get out there and take the lead. I just communicated with the two rookies and they pulled through for us, so we know what we have with them.” \nFor the men, Cutters edged out Phi Psi with a 15-lap time of 9:02.05 This was the second consecutive year that Cutters has claimed the Team Pursuit crown.
Brian and I went to the track last night to catch the end of Team Pursuit. Kappa Delta and Teter were in the Women's finals, while the Men's final had Phi Psi and Cutters.
Individual Time Trials showed which rider is the fastest after four laps. Miss-N-Out showed which rider can out-race the competition. Thus far, the Little 500 series events have only determined the top individuals. Until now.
Individual Time Trials showed which rider is the fastest after four laps. Miss-N-Out showed which rider can out-race the competition. Thus far, the Little 500 series events have only determined the top individuals. Until now.\nTeam Pursuit, the final spring series event, showcases the best four-person squad, will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday in Bill Armstrong Stadium.\nIn the race, each heat of the competition will have two teams of four riders. They will start at opposite sides of the track and will ride in a pace line for the designated amount of laps; men must complete 15, while women must finish 12.\nOf the four riders on each team, only the top three times will count toward their overall finish. Teams are given the option to have their fourth rider drop out of the race at any point.\nOverall times are based on when the back wheel of the third rider crosses the finish line. The two fastest men’s and women’s teams race again after their initial run in a head-to-head final to determine the Team Pursuit champion.\n“We are really excited about it,” Ride DMC senior Tom Askey said. “Throughout the whole year you work on road rides, and it is your first chance to show what you have been doing on the road and translate it onto the track.”\nTeam Pursuit is a good evaluator for teams to see where they stand in the overall competition and it also enables riders to make any necessary changes before race day.\n“I think it is bigger than both ITTs and Miss-N-Out,” Delta Sigma Pi rider Paul Todorow said. “This pretty much places how you will do in Little 500.”\nAskey said having an effective pre-race strategy plays a large role in how successful a team will be.\n“I think the hardest part is going into it with a strategy and actually knowing what you are going to do,” Askey said. “The key is having a strategy and executing it.”\nOne major tactic that teams must consider is deciding whether or not to drop their fourth rider during the course of the Team Pursuit race. By doing so, teams will be able to get rid of their weakest rider in hopes of earning the fastest time possible. \nCutters coach Jim Kirkham said having a rider drop out proves that you can be a top team on race day.\n“It is a slower run if you finish with four guys because that means that you are not going fast enough to drop the weakest rider,” Kirkham said. “Last year we won it with four people finishing, but this year I am trying to get the guys to go a little quicker and drop somebody. To win the event, you have to go that hard.”\nPi Betta Phi junior Haley Bakker said there is no reason to get rid of a teammate if they are not holding the group up. \n“If you have four strong riders with about the same skill level then that is what you want to do,” Bakker said. “If you have riders of a different skill level, it is important that you communicate and work as a team to reach the goal that you set beforehand.”\nDoing well as a team for the final series event will help provide confidence for teams going into the Little 500 race. \n“You can carry a lot of momentum going into the race from it,” Cutters senior Paul Sigfusson said. “Having four strong riders on that track makes the difference between who wins and loses. There are probably 10 teams that could win this event so it’s up in the air.”
Yesterday, Brian and I watched both the Men's and Women's Little 500 Practice Runs. This pretty much was a shortened down version of the actual race. To get a glimpse of what you may see in a little over a week, check it out here.
Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know that Brian and I will be at the track today to catch the later heats of Miss-N-Out. As soon as we find out the results we will let you know...
Heading into Wednesday night’s Individual Time Trials, all eyes were on last year’s Individual Time Trial champion and record-holder, Teter senior Sarah Rieke. Someone forgot to tell Wing It junior Kristi Hewitt.\nHewitt posted a time of 2:36.63, edging out Rieke by .19 seconds. For the men, Black Key Bulls junior Isaac Neff took the top spot with a time of 2:19.75.\n“I’m really happy with my time,” Hewitt said. “I’ve just been working really hard these past two weeks. Series events give you an overall picture of the girls, but the race is what is important.”\nRieke, although she was unable to retain her title, still felt comfortable with her time and the progression of her team with only a couple weeks remaining until the Little 500 race.\n“I just concentrated on spinning as fast as possible and catching the girl in front of me,” \nRieke said. “It’s really hard to look back at last year and see how well I did and strive to get better and better every year. That’s the goal, seeing how hard you can push yourself.”\nNeff faced off in the same heat with three members of last year’s top 13 riders – Cutters senior and defending champion Sasha Land, Dodds House senior Daniel Houchens and Team Major Taylor senior Ali Camera. Neff said being in the same heat as other top riders enabled him to be successful.\n“I feel good about it,” Neff said. “I always watch the guy in front of me and Sasha was in front of me, so I could tell if I was beating him and I wasn’t for the first two laps. I knew I had to keep going faster.”\nITTs, the first series event of the spring season, matched riders of different teams against each other for a four-lap sprint around the track. \nPhi Delta Theta sophomore Nick Sovinski and Cutters freshman Eric Young rounded out the top three men. Sophomore Jennifer Balbach of Kappa Delta finished in third place on the women’s side.\n“It shows who can sprint and who can keep a real fast pace going,” Sovinski said. “It kind of determines a little but the race is still so much more about teamwork, drafting and strategy.”\nMiss-N-Out, the next series event, also helps determine the top individual riders and will take place Saturday morning at Bill Armstrong Stadium.\n“It is a great measure to see how far your training is,” Rieke said. “If you do poorly (in ITTs) it doesn’t mean you can’t be good a couple weeks later.”
Heading into Wednesday night’s Individual Time Trials, all eyes were on last year’s Individual Time Trial champion and record-holder, Teter senior Sarah Rieke. Someone forgot to tell Wing It junior Kristi Hewitt.
Just checked with Little 500 Race Director Matt Ewing who said all of the times earlier reported by Brian remained the same at the end of the day, except for one.
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.
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.”
The official qualification times are up on the IU Student Foundation website.
