The front row of the 2002 women's Little 500 is no surprise to enthusiasts of the race. Since 1994, only Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta and the Roadrunners, last year's victors, have won the event. \nEach squad has three race titles over that period, with Kappa Alpha Theta last winning in 2000 and Kappa Kappa Gamma in 1999. Those two teams are in the front row again this year.\nJoining them in the front row is Con Fuoco, a team that has three new members but is bolstered by the leadership of team captain and Riders Council co-chair Robyn Faike, a senior. \nIn the second row, Phi Mu also has a lone returning rider in senior and captain Analisa Dziedziejko. Alpha Phi Omega and Single Speed Sprinters, the fifth and sixth qualifying teams, ended the race last year in 21st and 23rd place and hope to improve on those finishes.\nWhile all teams are pleased with being in the first two rows, they know, come race day, it will take more than a strong pole position to win the race.
No. 1 Kappa Kappa Gamma (2:48.644)\nEqual parts of experienced skill and raw talent may be the key to Kappa Kappa Gamma taking the checkered flag this year. The squad is composed of two veteran riders in captain Meg Haney, a senior, and sophomore Alison Edwards and two rookie members in freshman Meredith Horner and senior Kristen Carpenter.\n"We've all worked real hard," Haney said. "When we're at the track, we're serious and we get our work done. I feel this team is so much stronger than our team last year. Our program is great, and everything is just very positive right now."\nThe team has demonstrated its proficiency throughout the Little 500 series. The squad took the pole at qualifications, had three top-10 finishers at Individual Time Trials and sent two riders to the final race at Miss-N-Out, including the eventual winner, Carpenter. \nThe team earned the pole on its third attempt at qualifications, an achievement, although surprising to the team, it doesn't intend to waste. \n"We wanted to place high, but we weren't really expecting the pole position, so it was kind of a shock to us," Haney said. "Now that we have it, starting the race is kind of a mind game to avoid wrecks. So, having that pole position and knowing that we're strong and being able to set the pace of the race, that's real important.\n"We've trained hard. We've got fast legs. We just want to go out and be fast."
No. 2 Kappa Alpha Theta (2:50.562)\nWearing commemorative jerseys labeled "Kappa Alpha Theta Bike Team Alumna," Kappa Alpha Theta is hoping to recapture the success that has gone hand-in-hand with the squad since the women's race began.\n"Of course we want to win -- everybody wants to win -- but I don't know if there's a sense of urgency," senior and captain Jeanne Foote said. "Everybody wants to win. You want to do your best, and that's what we want to do. Our expectation is to go out there, do well and hopefully bring home a trophy." \nThe senior contingent also consists of Parker Ryan and Krissy Johnson. All three riders finished in the top 20 at Individual Time Trials. Junior Annie Zell is the other race veteran, and the team is also flanked by two upstart rookies, junior Leigh Frame and sophomore Amanda Wickenkamp. \n"It's really good to have a lot of experience," Foote said. "It's good to have girls out there with experience racing in the pack and with IU Cycle Club. But the rookies are also amazing athletes. They've been really stepping up, and they're going to be great leaders for next year. I'm really excited."
No. 3 Con Fuoco (2:51.391)\nYou wouldn't think Con Fuoco had only one returning rider in this year's race from the looks of the team at qualifications. The squad earned a third-place position with a 2:51.391 time, including a fastest first lap overall from Little 500 newcomer Keri Anderson, a senior. \n"We're not rebuilding; we're reloading," said Robyn Faike, a senior and the lone returnee. "We're hoping and expecting to do real well. We showed a lot of effort at qualifications, and we just have high expectations for the race."\nSenior Kate Green and freshman Christina Restchack are the other two rookies racing for Con Fuoco. Faike said having a relatively inexperienced team doesn't affect the team's expectations, thanks to the drive and determination of the rookies.\n"We feel that we are very ready for the race," Faike said. "It would be very tough if the rookies weren't into it, but they are. They like to watch tape, analyze and get excited about the race. There's no persuasion needed."
Row 2\nNo. 4 Phi Mu (2:52.938)\nLast year, Phi Mu qualified in the third position and finished the race in 12th place. This year, after qualifying fourth, the squad is hoping it can use its favorable starting position to forge a top-10 finish. \n"We think we have a pretty good present position," said captain Analisa Dziedziejko, a junior. "We're right behind Kappa's wheel, and we're on the inside of the track, so we think it's a great position to be in."\nDziedziejko is the only returning rider from last year's Phi Mu squad, but the rest of the team is not entirely devoid of experience. Sophomore Katy Mancini competed in last year's race for Athena. The rest of the squad is composed of three rookies -- freshman Sarah Rich, sophomore Amanda Litvan and senior Jane Terfler. \n"We are just out there to have fun," Dziedziejko said. "Our team works really well together, so we're just trying to do the best we can. We're hoping for something in the top 10 at least this year. We're hoping for anything up there."
No. 5 Alpha Phi Omega (2:53.961)\nAlpha Phi Omega qualified fifth and boasts three returning riders from a squad that placed 23rd in last year's race. \n"We were pleasantly surprised with taking fifth," senior and captain Stacey Schwenker said. "We want to maintain our position the best we can. There's normally a wreck within the first 10 or 15 laps in the back with more inexperienced riders, so you're fortunate if you're at the front and can miss those type of accidents in the beginning." \nCompeting for the team in addition to Schwenker are senior Janet Niccum and juniors Carrie Waggoner and Ashley Hohler. Schwenker said she hopes the experience her team has will equal fast times come race day.\n"I wouldn't say we have a lot of depth, but we have a lot of experience with the three of us -- and that helps a lot," Schwenker said. "I think experience is very important, especially when it comes to pack riding, because we have a feeling of what's going on. Being in a pack can be overwhelming, and that's one less thing we have to worry about."
No. 6 Single Speed Sprinters (2:55.013)\nAfter finishing 21st in last year's Little 500, the Single Speed Sprinters are eager to ride their sixth-place qualifying position to a better finish.\n"We're just concentrating on improving on our place from last year," said captain Rachel Clark, a senior. "We're looking for something in the top 10."\nReturning for the team are Clark and sophomores Annika Hosni and Monica Zycinski. Sophomore Emily Burns is the lone rookie on the team. \nAs its name suggests, the team intends to sprint its way to a top finish at the Little 500. Clark said the team would concentrate on fast sprinting, exchanging the bike more often than other teams to balance the fatigue involved.\n"We're going at it as a sprint race, and we'll be working to keep our speed high," Clark said. "That can make exchanges important, but it's a 100-lap race, and if we have one or two bad exchanges, it shouldn't be a problem"
