Arnesen captures ITT

After setting the record at Individual Time Trials last year, Alpha Tau Omega rider Hans Arnesen failed to complete a quarter of a lap before his chain broke in the first spring series event of the season.\nClearly disgusted with his bike, Arnesen slammed his Schwinn into the outer fence of Bill Armstrong Stadium as his fellow riders completed their trial.\nWhen Arnesen took the track two hours later, neither his chain nor the other riders would deny the senior his second ITT title in a row. Arnesen's time of 2 minutes, 17.7 seconds edged out Cutter rider Alex Bishop's time of 2:20.7 for first place.\nDespite his earlier setback, Arnesen was pleased with the victory.\n"Its never fun having to get back in your rhythm and find your focus again, but it's gotta be done," Arnesen said. "It feels good. I love this race and I love to be able to do it again."\nArnesen's broken chain was one of the four disappointments in his heat as fellow riders Joe Keck (Phi Gamma Delta), Sasha Land (Cutters) and Kevin Moore (Dodds House) were unable to top the time Bishop set early in the day.\nEven though the other three riders were unable to break Bishop's time, they all placed in the top 15, making it the fastest heat of the night. Moore said that riding in such a fast heat helped him during the race.\n"The track felt good, it was a little cool, but it was nice," the Dodds House rider said. "This being my senior year, I am good friends with Hans, Sasha, and Joe on and off the track. We race together, we ride for IU together and it's definitely an honor to ride with those guys tonight."\nThe fastest men's heat directly followed the fastest women's heat, capping off the night's "power hour." While good riders raced throughout the evening, many of the top riders on both the men's and women's sides raced from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.\nThe fastest women's heat featured Bella Veloce rider and defending champion Abby Cooper, who also set the all-time record last season. While Cooper looked to defend her title, Kappa Kappa Gamma rider Jess Sapp stole the show by edging out second place finisher and Alpha Phi rider Katie Thompson with a time of 2:20.7. Cooper finished third to Sapp and Thompson in the heat and fifth place overall.\nSapp was happy with the victory, but heading into the race she was focused on personal improvement, not on taking first place.\n"Personally, it just means I have improved from last year," Sapp said. "I look at lot at how I improve myself and not how I do compared to the field because it so different each year. I figure if I train for six months, I can shave off a couple seconds on ITT's so that's what I was looking for the most."\nFor series events, Sapp said she was focused on getting ready for the Little 500 and improvement. The events are a good indication of the competition, but they are by no means the only way to judge a rider Sapp said.\n"Maybe a little bit, but I feel like anyone in the top 10 is going to be spotted," Sapp said. "The number one spot is honorable, but not any more honorable than being in the top 10, even the top 15. Those are all amazing riders."\n--Senior writer Michael Sanserino contributed to this report.