Taking a spot in the third and fourth rows of the men's field doesn't count any team out of a winning position. Each team qualified within tenths of seconds of one another and despite injuries on two teams, working their way to the top is the main goal.
Row 3\nNo. 7 Dodds House (2:35.096)\nIn seventh place, Dodds House is in top contention for a winning season. Returning three riders from last year and possesing a strong rookie rider, the team has confidence its abilities can take the team to the top.\n"We have an experienced rider at the start, and we have confidence that he'll get us off to a good start," freshman Craig Luekens said. "We have three other strong riders; I think that gives us a good chance of winning."\nThe strong riders includes Leukens, who finished third in the Individual Time, and a semifinal finish for senior Charlie Metzger. \nThe team's plan for the race is to trust in each other and perform to the best of their ability.\n"Basically we want to perform our exchanges well and try to give it 110 percent," Luekens said. "We don't want to look back and say that we could have gone harder at the end of the race because that would be the worst feeling in the world. We just want to go out there and race."
No. 8 Sigma Phi Epsilon (2:35.202)\nAfter a third-place qualification time last year and a finish of the same, Sig EP isn't as happy with its eight place finish in qualifications this year. \n"We had some problems qualifiying this year in the eighth spot; it's not where we want to be," senior team captain, Michael Zycinski, said. "We are planning on moving out in front. That's where we are more comfortable." \nThe team's success this year has come from many of its individual strengths. Zycinski placed in the top 15 in Individual Time Trials and made it to the semifinals of Miss-N-Out, and senior Mark Downing also succeeded in Miss-N-Out placing third overall. \n"I think we have done pretty well (in the series). ITT was really tough this year with all of the times being so close," Zycinski said. "The race is going to be really competitive."
No. 9 Gafombi (2:35.615)\nFinding the correct formula for a winning team isn't easy, but Gafombi's team is trying its best to look for it. \n"We aren't sure of any strategies we have," senior Michael Rubin said. "Right now we are trying to figure out how many laps each rider can ride and use that as a formula."\nThe team, which is made up of three veteran riders and one rookie, rides this year as Gafombi for the first time. Rubin said the team joked about how fun it would be to ride together last summer.\n"John (Grant), Jeremy (James), and I lived together this past summer and we joked about how fun it would be to ride together," Rubin said. "It's cool how it worked out because now we do." \nThe team's individual performances has accumulated a formula that rocketed the team to a top contention. All four riders excelled in series events. Grant placed sixth in Miss-N-Out and sophomore Jason Fowler made it to the semifinal round, Rubin and Grant both placed in the top 15 of Individual Time Trails, and James held the team's second fastest lap of qualifications.\n \nRow 4\nNo. 10 Pi Kappa Phi (2:35.967)\nBeginning the fourth row, Pi Kap had a tough time qualifying, senior Brian Wire sustained an ankle injury, which put him out of commision for qualifications.\n"We had confidence no matter what, but it's always nice to have Brian out on the bike. He makes it easier for everyone else," senior Ray Pryor said. \nThrough the years Pi Kappa Phi has shown anything can happen in the race. Last year the team qualified 26th, but finished 10th in the race.\nPryor said the team hasn't decided which riders will ride in the final race, but they have been working hard and working for the common goal that makes things easier.\n"We are all supportive of one another and of the race," Pryor said. "We realize the race is bigger than we are. It's just such a special thing you have to get as much out of it as we can."
No. 11 Kappa Sigma (2:36.687)\nFaced with a last minute injury, Kappa Sigma will ride with three riders, but hopes its preparation and training will pay off.\n"We wanted to be a top team all along. With Andrew (Carter) breaking his shoulder, it puts a damper on it, but our new goal is to go out there and have fun right now," senior David Hawkins said. "It's going to be tough. In lap 150 we will be really really tired, but hopefully we trained enough that we can go out there and do it."\nHawkins said Carter is more disappointed than in pain, but said with Carter being a sophomore he still has an oppurtunity to race in the future.\nThe team qualified 15th last year and placed the same. Returning all four riders from last year the team's relationship expands from the track to the rider's outside lives.\n"We are like best friends. We spend all our time together," Hawkins said. "We trained in San Diego over the spring break. It's just the time our your life."
No. 12 Fratello (2:36.905)\nIt may have been a rookie mistake in a crash, but the attitude that senior Timothy Kolar has about his recent collarbone break will help Fratello in the race even if he physically can't.\n"Some guy wasn't paying attention," Kolar said of his accident. "He was being an airhead out there and snapped my collarbone. It was a dumb mistake that had a rookie rider take out a veteran."\nDespite the team's lack of experience, now riding with three rookies and one veteran, they are confident that rookies have what it takes to carry the team.\n"It will obviously hurt us a little bit, but the guys have been training hard," Kolar said. "It'll make us stronger for the future and give the rookie the chance to ride."\nFratello quallified 21st last year and finished 14th in the race. This year the team qualified 12th. Kolar said the team is looking forward to the race even without one of their veteran riders.\n"Our goal is to have fun, and when it's over and done with it's an intramural event," he said. "We have had a lot of fun up to this point. If it's first or 33rd, so be it"
