Gearing up

After weather conditions forced Little 500 teams to practice away from Bill Armstrong Stadium this week, riders are anxious to get back on the right track, even if that track is a bit sludgy. Qualifications for the men's and women's fields are all day Saturday, where teams compete to determine the racing order for the April event.\nTeams resumed practice Thursday after a Tuesday snowfall closed the track for two days. Though the track was cleared of most snow, Kappa Alpha Theta coach Tom Schwoegler said the track was in the worst condition he had ever seen before qualifications.\nBecause of track conditions, teams were not allowed to ride on the inside or outside edges of the track in hopes the surface would improve by Saturday's qualifications. But the smaller riding area created more congestion for riders during Thursday practices. \nKappa Kappa Gamma rider Jess Sapp said she hopes the track improves by Saturday, but if conditions don't improve, she might not be as upset as other teams.\n"Last year we set the record," Sapp said. "So we're thinking if the track's terrible, hopefully nobody will break the record."\nTwo-time defending pole-sitter Kappa Kappa Gamma set the women's track record with a time of 2:36:14 in 2005. But Sapp said she won't be too upset if they don't three-peat.\n"We don't train six months for quals, we train six months for the race, so as long as we're in those first couple rows, we'll be pleased," she said. "You can always move up once the flag goes."\nKappa Kappa Gamma attempts qualification at 8:20 a.m. Saturday, something Sapp views as both an advantage because of the lack of wind and a disadvantage because of the lack of sunshine.\nSchwoegler said he believes teams qualifying in the morning have a distinct disadvantage because of the lower temperatures and the slick track.\nComplicating matters, the National Weather Service forecasts a 50 percent chance of precipitation Friday night.\nWhile he acknowledges it's an issue, Theta Chi rider Jacob Fowler said he doesn't think track moisture will alter the qualification results.\n"It will make the corners more difficult, but everyone has to ride on the same track," he said.\nThe less than perfect track conditions only intensify the emotions riders feel during qualification weekend, especially since, for some teams, Little 500 hopes will be cut with a poor qualification time.\n"Quals is definitely the most nerve-wracking day," Phi Gamma Delta rider Joe Keck said. "Having done it a couple of times, I feel a little better about it, but I need to be there to calm down the rest of the guys on my team. By far it's the most nerve-wracking day because you have to get into the event."\nKeck is the only returning rider from 2005's second-place team.\n"We have a pretty rookie team this year; it doesn't help having this weather heading into qualification," he said.\nFowler said he is confident the team full of rookies will be successful in its first qualifications.\n"We are feeling good compared to other rookie teams, but we still have a lot of work to do before Saturday," Fowler said. "But we are ready for it"