Ready, set, go: 2nd Little Fifty takes off

When people think of Little 500 week, thoughts of bicycles zooming around a track with spectators cheering pop into minds. The famed race caps off a wild week here at IU. However, a 12.5-mile foot race is what kicks off all the weekend festivities. \nThe Little Fifty race will take place Sunday at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex. This race is a relay-style running race patterned after the Little 500 with 25 teams competing for both the men and women. The 50-lap event features non-varsity, undergraduate runners who are attending school at IU and are also undergraduates. \nThe women's race will be first, with runners approaching the starting line at 2 p.m. The men will follow immediately after at 4 p.m. As the race approaches, teams are starting to focus. \n"On Thursday, we worked on speed and getting used to the track," Mercury runner Chris Bruszewski said. "Most importantly, we've layed out who is running what laps and our strategy."\nThis year, the competition is stiff among the teams vying for the title. Leading the way for the men was team Pi Omega Tau. Their time of 8:43.14 bested all others, and it will lead the field to the green flag. \nMZD was second with a time of 8:51.36, and Phi Gamma Delta was third. They all are chasing the team of Sigma Chi, which looks to make it two-for-two Sunday, as the team won last year's inaugural race by 24 seconds over Mercury. \nSigma Chi qualified in 23rd place. Runners from the team are hoping for good results Sunday.\nAlpha Tau Omega's Stan Regan, a senior, said the team hopes to improve on its qualifying position.\n"A goal for the team is to finish in the top 5, since we qualified seventh," Regan said. "Personally, I hope to have some good split times and be a positive influence for my team."\nFor the women, Alpha Phi took pole position honors with a time of 10:40.4, and Shabam came in second just four seconds behind. They will try to defeat the defending champions, The Stilettos, which qualified third just 20 seconds back of the pole.\nTeams will be looking to knock them off their throne.\n"I hope my team can go out, have a good time and improve on our qualifying seed," said runner Kelli Jo Gatewood, a member of the Frontrunners team. "I am also on the Runner's Council, so being able to design a race was rewarding as well." \nWhile bragging rights and glory are the two obvious rewards of the Little Fifty race, it is all for a good cause. The winning team's proceeds, $250, go toward the philanthropy designated by the women's and men's teams, respectively. Teams will not only be eyeing the checkered flag, but also noteworthy charity causes. \n-- Contact staff writer Colin Burns at coaburns@indiana.edu.