Women's race celebrates 15th running

In 1987, four Kappa Alpha Theta riders enrolled in qualifications for the Little 500 -- an all male race at the time. The squad wasn't trying to make a statement as much as it was looking for an outlet for its love of cycling.\nBut after not qualifying for the race itself, the girls nonetheless made a statement as they effectively challenged the status quo. \nThe next year, after 36 straight years of a men's Little 500, the women's race was born. This year's event marks the 15th anniversary of that historic race with the 15th running of the women's Little 500. \n"I think it's very impressive to see how far it's come," IU Student Foundation assistant director and women's race adviser Megan Quigley said. "To have the race come along so strongly and to reach these levels so quickly is impressive. There are eight or nine incredibly strong teams in this year's race. That's a huge accomplishment and just pushes everyone else to the next level." \nBut getting to that level has been in the works for some time. In the beginning of the men's Little 500, women decorated the pits for the race and were vocal supporters of the men's teams. Then, in 1955, the Mini 500 was established to give women an opportunity to take part in the race. Throughout the 1970s, a number of women tried unsuccessfully to enter the race, most of them missing the cut at qualifications. By 1984, IUSF realized women had an interest in cycling and created a women's division in Team Pursuit, a Little 500 series event. The following year, a women's division was created in another series event, Miss-N-Out.\nIn 1987, following Theta's attempt to qualify, series event riders Debbie Satterfield of Stonies and Jill Janov of Spokeswomen joined Phyllis Klotman, the dean of IU's Office of Women's Affairs, and the IUSF in devising the women's race. \n"I think the first race was very well-received," IUSF archivist Judy Spears Palmer said. "When it finally came to the point in 1987, the Thetas did (participate in qualifications); they just weren't fast enough. But they weren't willing to just take that and leave it. They went to Phyllis Klotman, and her participation in this effort made it happen.\n"They finally got to someone high enough in the administration to get something happening. And it only took a year. We had a race in 1988. That's amazing." \nOne year later, a new Little 500 tradition began. Two of the Thetas who had attempted to qualify in the men's race the year before returned. The race immediately found acceptance, as 30 teams participated. Willkie Sprint took the inaugural title by turning the race into a series of 10-lap sprints, a strategy that then-Theta head coach Tom Schwoegler said his team realized too late. Thetas finished the race in second place. \n"It was an eye-opening experience, definitely a fun experience," Schwoegler said. "Because the Thetas had the two women who had basically championed the women's event, we definitely had a lot of momentum on our side.\n"In the years that I coached the Theta team, my comment would always be, a lot of teams have alumni that come back but only the Thetas have the two who beat their brains out to get this thing to happen."\nIn 1989, Beyond Control won the second women's race by setting a track record that still stands today for fastest time. Team Sprint won the third race a year later. But, by the early '90s, the race had already begun to dwindle from its upstart beginnings. Already, the field of 30 fell to 27 in 1989, 25 in 1990 and 22 in 1991. \n"At that point, people thought 'This is not going to work. Women are not interested in competing against each other and working as hard,'" IUSF assistant director and Little 500 coordinator Alex Ihnen said. "To see it come back from that to where it is today is impressive. It really shows there is a forum and a place for women to compete if they want to do it."\nIn 1992 and 1993, the Landsharks became the first women's team to win back-to-back races. The following year, Kappa Alpha Theta, led by Schwoegler as coach, became the second. 1994 also ushered in a streak of dominance by three teams that is still active today. Of the last eight races dating back to 1994, either Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta or Roadrunners has taken the checkered flag. \nSince 1994, participation in the event began to shoot up. Thirty-two teams raced in 1998 and 1999, and there are 30 teams racing in this year's event -- with a record number of overall participants. The IUSF has hopes that one day the field will reach 33, the maximum number of teams allowed in the race. \n"That's going to happen. Sooner or later, it will," Palmer said. "Back in those years when we had 22, 23, 24, now we have 30 and that's just going to get stronger. The women's interest is there. Why shouldn't we have women out there supporting the race?"\nWith all the fanfare, excitement and tradition surrounding the men's race, the women's race has never been able to live up to the same standard of popularity. But the race has found a strong base of supporters, enough to ensure its continued success in the years to come. \n"You really do hear people say that they like the women's race better," Quigley said. "They honestly like the women's race better. You do hear it, and it's very nice to hear it."\nSchwoegler, who has also coached in the men's race, is one of those people. \n"I like the men's Little 500," Schwoegler said. "But, to me, the women's race is infinitely more interesting. It's infinitely more rewarding for me as a spectator and as a coach. With a guy, it's a testosterone thing; they get to walk around campus and say 'Hey, I won Little 500.' It's a huge deal. \n"But if you sit down across from four women, rationally, there is absolutely no good reason for them to do this. The prizes aren't that great, the recognition isn't that great, the chance that they can get hurt and physically scarred is significant -- but they go out there and do it anyhow. I have a great deal of admiration for any woman no matter if they're a contending team, a championship team or just a team that goes out to expand their own horizons, to take some risks. That's where the value of this thing lies: They can go out there and have a rewarding experience"