Phi Delta Theta, Teter win Team Pursuit, white jersey

If the 2010 Women’s Little 500 Spring Series could be defined in only three words, a good start might be “Caitlin Van Kooten.”

With the most dominant individual performance of any male or female rider this spring, the junior Teter rider completed a series sweep as she paced her Teter team to a Team Pursuit title Saturday night.

And while her individual performances stand out, her main award for all the success was a team one —  Teter won the Spring Series points standings, securing the white jersey for race day.

Van Kooten held the lead position for Teter for each of the 24 laps — 12 in the heat and 12 in the final — in the Team Pursuit competition. Most teams, in contrast, constantly rotate riders in and out of the “pulling” pace-setting position.

For the men’s side, Phi Delta Theta ruled the evening with a final time nearly seven seconds faster than any other men’s team. Phi Delta Theta also secured the men’s white jersey with the Team Pursuit title.

The Team Pursuit event, the third and final event of the Spring Series, consists of two teams competing in a 12-lap (women) or 15-lap (men) heat, with the time determined by each team’s third-place finisher. Following all the initial heats, the top two men’s and women’s teams compete in a final run to determine the event winner.

For the women, Teter won the final by six seconds against race-day pole sitter Kappa Kappa Gamma with an 8:20.04 time. With the win, Van Kooten added to her personal titles in the Individual Time Trials and Miss ‘N Out events.
Teter sophomore Lauren Gowdy emphasized the role of the entire team in winning the event.

“Team Pursuit was great to win because it’s a team effort,” Gowdy said. “You’re only as good as your weakest person. For us to go that fast, and for everyone to stay with the fastest girl on the track, is an awesome thing.”

Despite pace-setting the entire time, Van Kooten saw it the same way.

“It’s so good to have all four girls finish like that,” Van Kooten said. “That’s what you want.”

In the men’s final heat, Phi Delta Theta defeated Phi Kappa Psi with a 9:17.63 time. The only other time by any team that was within six seconds of that mark was Phi Delt’s own heat time, which was a 9:12.92.

Phi Psi posted a 9:25.49 for a second-place finish.

Phi Delta Theta senior Nick Sovinski said Saturday’s win, coupled with a strong performance in Miss ‘N Out, will provide the team with momentum for race day this weekend.

“I’m looking forward to race day and going for the win. That’s what I’m really focused on,” Sovinski said. “This helps us show we have a strong, deep team. This is going to help us accomplish that goal.”

Kappa Alpha Theta, Delta Gamma and Army Women rounded out the top five women’s teams, while Phi Gamma Delta, Cutters and Sigma Chi finished third through fifth on the men’s side.