Qualification day kicks off Little 500 season at Indiana

This is a special time for students down in Bloomington. Qualifications begin today to open the exciting but wild times at Indiana University. Both the women’s and men’s teams will attempt to qualify all day Saturday to get a chance to ride in the Little 500 race on April 15th and 16th respectively.

Qualifying is a top priority and provides a good indication of how a team may fare on race day. Cutters won the race last year and is a currently a strong favorite.

I respect the teams that are full of athletes that represent their Greek house. Most of the riders were strong athletes in high school and look to use that competitive spirit on the track.

For those not participating in the race, it is the first real day party since winter. Students will bring out their wacky attire with a headband probable.

Little 500 partying is a campus wide event. Everyone is bound to get in on the festivities. The week of the race has earned the title “The World’s Greatest College Weekend.” This year Lil Wayne, Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj will be performing on Tuesday, April 12th thanks to the IU Union Board, and GLOWfest on April 14th is highlighted by Pretty Lights and Chiddy Bang.

Unfortunately, the weather outlook isn’t so positive. With a high of 48, expect the chill temperatures and wind to definitely have an impact on qualification times. Some teams prefer to go early and get it out of the way. The other strategy, which I prefer, is to go late afternoon with warmer temperatures. In doing so, the team has a good idea of what time is needed to break the field and crack the top ten.

My fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi has won the race seven times and is the only team to hold the distinguish honor of having qualified for all 60 races. Hopefully the streak continues.

Cheers to Little Five season.

Below are qualification times via http://little500blog.blogspot.com/

Men:
Sigma Nu: 2:25.91
Cutters: 2:26.46
Sigma Chi: 2:26.71
Phi Delta Theta: 2:27.89
Delta Tau Delta: 2:28.03
Black Key Bulls: 2:29.09
Beta Theta Pi: 2:29.27
Air Force: 2:29.33
Cru: 2:29.40
LAMP: 2:31.16
Evan Scholars: 2:31.81
Grey Goat: 2:32.51
Delta Sigma Pi: 02:32.77
Theta Chi: 2:32.80
Kappa Sigma: 2:33.38
Delta Chi: 2:34.11
Phi Kappa Psi: 2:34.16
CSF Cycling: 2:34.23
Dodds House: 2:34.64
Achtung: 2:34.90
Hoosier Climber?: 2:35.22
#Jungle Express 2:35.41
Beta Sigma Psi: 2.36.27
Emanon: 02:36.27
Sigma Phi Epsilon: 2:36.36
Delta Upsilon: 2:36.76
Wright Cycling: 02:36.84
Sigma Alpha Epsilon: 2:36.97
Sigma Alpha Mu: 2:37.89
Acacia: 2:38.27
Pi Kappa Alpha: 2:38.71
Phi Gamma Delta: 2:39.65
Sigma Pi: 2:40.23
Beta Sigma Psi: 02:40.29
Lamda Chi Alpha: 2:40.31
Pi Kappa Phi: 2:41.76
Team Dark Horse: 2:42.35
Alpha Epsilon Pi: 2:42.61
Zeta Beta Tau: 02:43.17
Delta Kappa Epsilon: 2:44.83
Corean Legstrong: 2:49.62
Rainbow Cycling: 2:59.54

Women:
Delta Gamma: 2:44.76
Teter: 2:47.52
Army: 2:48.74
Wing It: 2:50.00
Kappa Kappa Gamma: 2:51.24
Alpha Gamma Delta: 2:52.00
Pi Beta Phi: 2:53.91
Phi Mu: 02:54.20
Delta Zeta: 2:54.60
Gamma Phi Beta: 2:55.35
Kappa Alpha Theta: 2:56.98
Chi Omega: 2:57.29
Cru Cycling: 2:58.40
Alpha Chi Omega: 02:58.60
Alpha Xi Delta: 2:59.25
Ride On: 2:59.49
Team Revolution: 3:01.98
SPQR: 3:01.54
Team Revolution: 3:01.96
Delta Sigma Pi: 3:02.66
Mezcla: 3:03.43
Alpha Delta Pi: 3:04.08
Delta Delta Delta: 3:07.92
Last Chance: 3:09.89
Alpha Phi: 3:09.98
Zeta Tau Alpha: 3:11.28
Team Gluff: 3:12.54
Air Force Women: 3:13.95
Alpha Epsilon Phi: 3:15.87
Rainbow Cycling Women: 03:17.25
Air Force: 3:13.95
Sigma Delta Tau: 3:26.88