Teams make up for lack of experience with optimism

The teams in Row 8 have seen their share of ups and downs during the Little 500 race. Each team lacks experience, but each team has high hopes.\nNo. 22 Pi Beta Phi, 3:16.20\nSenior Anne Wasilchuk trained last year, but broke her collarbone before the race. She is still the most experienced member of the Pi Beta Phi team.\n"I didn't ride in the race, but I kind of knew everything that was going on," Wasilchuk said. "It was kind of a challenge (training three rookies), but it wasn't as hard as it could have been. We had one of our former riders helping us out, so that helped a lot."\nSophomores Kaylan Randolph and Jill Klein and freshman Andrea Hoehne are the three rookies.\nRandolph, Klein and Wasilchuk started training in the fall. Once a week they ran the stairs at Ballantine Hall, and the team went to the Student Recreational Sports Center for the Cycle Fit class or rode outside. Hoehne joined at the beginning of the spring semester.\nDespite the training, the team did not do as well as it would have liked during qualifications.\n"I think we were a little disappointed," Wasilchuk said. "We qualified on our third attempt. We went slower than we had been in practice. I think nerves had a little to do with it."\nLast year, Pi Phi finished 13th after qualifying 27th. Wasilchuk said the team is aware it has room to improve and is using that as a challenge.\n"We are all excited," Wasilchuk said. "Maybe not nervous yet, but we are all still trying to get comfortable riding."\nNo. 23 Zeta Tau Alpha, 3:17.15\nThe Zeta Tau Alpha team is split down the middle when it comes to experience. \nJunior Vidhya Balasubramaniam and senior Jen Burnett are riding in their second race. Seniors Kim Green and Amanda Banks are rookies. \n"It helps that two of us rode last year, because we're able to be there as a guide for the two new girls," Balasubramaniam said. "Having been out there last year, we know how to ride more cautiously and be alert. "\nLast year, Zeta qualified 20th and placed 20th, but Balasubramaniam said that means little. \n"Especially this year, the track was slow during quals, and I don't think quals can tell you about the teams," Balasubramaniam said.\nSince Zeta started training, it has worked on interval training and pack training. Much of its practice time has been spent working outside and at the track.\nThe team parted ways for spring break, which might not have hurt them training wise.\n"I went on spring break last year, and it really builds team unity," Balasubramaniam said. "We are all pretty close already, though, but the unity is one thing we lost on spring break. It really brings team together. Spring break builds individual confidence, and having that brings the team confidence up."\nDespite a disappointing qualification time, Zeta is excited about the race.\n"We're going to give it our all," Balasubramaniam said. "Our No. 1 goal is having fun. It's an awesome tradition at IU and it's awesome to say that we were a part of this race."\nNo. 24 Delta Delta Delta, 3:17.42\nTwo years ago, Delta Delta Delta qualified near the bottom of the list, but finished in the top 10.\nThis year's team said it hopes for similar results.\n"We are a rebuilding team, because we have so many rookies," senior Tiffany Kerr said. "We are a fresh team, but we are pretty fast. "\nThe team has yet to determine which of the five members will ride in the race. Sophomores Katie Siminski and Kristine Ward join Kerr as rookies. They join senior Shauna Correll, a third-year rider, and sophomore Ashley Milton, a second-year rider.\nLast year, the team qualified fifth, but finished eighth, and despite a low qualifying spot this year, the team hopes it can finish in the top 10 again.\n"My greatest fear is (not) being able to communicate with the pack during the race," Kerr said. "I have watched a lot of races, but I had no clue it would be like this"