Rows three and four of this year's race all have a grounded mentality, a sort of "give it your best shot" look at things. Most teams within these two rows are also relatively inexperienced. Within the rows, Delta Gamma is bringing the most know how.
Row 3\nNo. 7 Zeta Tau Alpha (2:56.03)\n"We're going to give it our all," Zeta Tau Alpha team captain Jennifer Burnett said. \nThis pretty much sums up the feeling the team has going into this year's Little 500. \nThey certainly have given it all, as the team has vastly improved over last year's qualification by 16 starting spots, placing the team in their best starting position since the inaugural women's race in 1988. This accomplishment is contrasted by the fact that Burnett is the only returning racer on the team.\nSeniors Burnett, Nique DeLelles, Jennifer Burnett, junior Stephanie Mishevski and sophomores Kylie Conway and Teeda Suwannetr are the six riders vying for the four spots allowed in the race. This is the hardest task for a coach, but it must be done. Along with vast improvement and consistency, the team has a very grounded goal. \n"Really we just want to go out there and give it our best," Burnett said. "That's all you can really ask is to give everything you have on the track that day."
No. 8 Roadrunners (2:57.295)\nAs last year's winners, the Roadrunners have high expectations hanging over their heads. However, team captain Jenn Wangerin is the only remaining rider from last year's victorious team. Along with Wangerin, the team consists of three rookie riders, Mary Craig, Sarah Fredrickson and Emily Baltice, but this fact does not lower team expectations on placement.\n"Bad, very awful, terrible things could happen, and we would still be able to get into the top ten" Wangerin said.\nIf the Roadrunners don't have experience, the team captain certainly has confidence in the team for years to come. \n"The way I think of it is that we're building a Roadrunner dynasty," Wangerin said, "Last year we did well, and we're planning on doing well this year and the next few years after that."
No. 9 Delta Gamma (2:57.44)\nDelta Gamma comes into the 2002 race with a lot of experience, as three of the four riders are seniors. Lauren Naset is going into her fourth and Kelly Geiger and team captain Katie Mackey are going into their third and second races respectively. The only rookie on the team is sophomore Jennifer Arnold, but with the experience that surrounds her, should be confident going into the race.\nDelta Gamma is also a team that has molded together quite well, as all four teammates are placing the team first.\n"Of course it's a given that we're competing for our house, but above all, I'm competing for my three teammates," Mackey said.\nMackey makes sure not to place an emphasis on how the team places, just on whether or not the team gives it their all.\n"We're trying not to focus on other teams, as much as it can be strategically helpful, it can be motivationally unproductive," Mackey said, "We're just hoping to do our very, very best that day."
Row 4\nNo. 10 Alpha Gamma Delta (2:57.444)\nThis year's Alpha Gamma Delta team brings a set of sophomores in Corey Bitzer, Rebekah Rankin and Viki Hunziker under the tutelage of senior captain Heather Poag, creating a strong team ready for the 2002 Little 500. \nLast year, Alpha Gamma Delta finished in fourth place as the final team on the lead lap, and hopes to repeat this strong performance through team balance.\n"We're well-rounded," senior and captain Heather Poag said. "I'm more endurance, Corey has strength riding; we should do well."\nSimilar to a number of other racers, Poag does not discount the importance of luck.\n"We don't know how we'll do compared to everyone," she said. "That's luck. It's really hard to predict outcomes."
No. 11 Landsharks (2:59.414)\nReborn. \nThis word equates the resurrected Landsharks team consisting of three rookie riders -- freshmen Jessica Lindemann and Nicole Vincent and team captain, sophomore Lacey Newton. The last time the Landsharks competed was in 2000, finishing 15th. \nCompared to the 2000 team, this group of Landsharks fares quite well, qualifying a position ahead in 2002. \nDespite its lack of experience, the team remains quite optimistic and confident with what they can do. \n"Everybody is really strong and has the potential to do really well," Newton said.\nInexperience also brings the potential blessing of no expectations.\n"We don't really have anything to lose and we don't have a team to do better than last year," she said.
No. 12 Alpha Chi Omega (3:00.54)\nThe Alpha Chi Omega team is an experienced team with three returning riders, including senior Emily Merchant, who was not able to compete in last year's race because of MCAT's, junior Stacey Martindale and senior team captain Liz Keck. Junior Katie Pellar and sophomore Vanessa Higgins have also done the work to compete in this year's race, unfortunately one of these five riders must be cut for the race.\nAs for the riders that do compete, they can be sure that all of their team members will remain behind them.\n"It's awesome," Keck said. "In three years of doing this, this has the best morale of any team I've ever been with."\nThe positive mood is well deserved since the team has certainly had its bouts with trouble. During the sixth lap of last year's race, the Alpha Chi Omega team was involved in a large crash that essentially took them out of the race before the race truly began. This year, that memory still hangs quite fresh in Keck's mind and leaves team expectations unstated.\n"There's enough luck involved that you really can't put too much emphasis on a place value sometimes," Keck said. "We learned that last year the hard way"
