Cyclocross tests toughness; Time trial to conclude Series

The Little 500 Fall Cycling Series has two events down and one to go after completion of the Cyclocross Sunday night at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The series consists of three biking events: the Biathlon Sept. 23, the Cyclocross and a time trial Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the Monroe State Forest. The events are open to any IU undergrad, many whom are in training for the Little 500 race. The series concludes Oct. 7 with a rider barbecue hosted by the IU Student Foundation, which coordinate all Little 500 events.\nThe series events not only offer experience for prospective Little 500 riders, but prizes for the top winners of the series. The 1st place overall male and female winners each receive a $250 scholarship from Bicycle Garage Inc. The individual second place overall male and female win official IU Cycling Club jerseys. The overall male and female teams win two 2001 men's or women's Little 500 bicycles each, and every event division winner receives official IU Cycling Club riding socks.\n"The series is insanely competitive," said graduate student Alex Ihnen, assistant director of the IUSF and Little 500 coordinator. "Many Little 5 riders don't compete because they don't want to show their competition how good they are," he said.\nThe first event of the series -- the Biathlon -- began with a one-mile run, followed by an 11-mile bike trek and finished with another one-mile run. The five divisions of competitors included women's individual, women's team, men's individual, men's team and coed team. The winners of the event were junior Katie Mackey, riding for Delta Gamma in the individual women's, junior Allison Ward and sophomore Sarah Rietman,l riding for Alpha Xi Delta in the women's team event. Pi Kappa Phi senior Brian Wire won the individual men's, and Alpha Tau Omega sophomores Stan Regan and Michael Kehrberg took in the men's team and senior Katie Zeller and junior Tom Moore taking the co-ed division.\nThe second event, the Cyclocross, was primarily an obstacle course while carrying bikes. Riders dismount and remount their Little 500 bikes as they and their bikes jump hay bales and climb stadium steps. The riders competed in two-person teams completing one lap at a time of the 12-lap race. \nCyclocross is regarded as the most dangerous event of the series because of the hay bales, stadium steps and high riding speeds. It was apparent in the first seconds of the men's race that injury was inevitable. The winners of the men's division, senior Charlie Metzger and sophomore Brad Davies riding for the Dodds House prevailed over the course with an astounding time of 26:15, nearly 15 seconds faster than their competitors.\nThe risk of the race didn't seem to bother third place finisher, senior Michael Choinacky, who represented Teter. \n"I think this race is fun and I did it a couple of years ago and I really liked it and it's tough so not everyone can do it ... it might scare some people away," Choinacky said. "It's different, more interesting and a change of pace from training."\nThe change of pace and spirit of the race attracted Phi Mu riders junior Analisa Dziedziejko and senior Jane Terfler who won the women's race by a mere two seconds. The strategy for the tough course was to be aware of the courses' obstacles.\n"Basically (our strategy was) just to be cautious out there and not get hurt," Dziedziejko said. "At this point we aren't that scared to go out there and have fun." \nThe women's race wasn't as competitive as the men's 18-team turnout; only four teams came out to race in the women's division. \n"We were hoping for more women's teams, but some people didn't show up tonight," said IUSF committee member and junior Sarah Ferraro. "There will definitely be more coming out for the Little 500 race"