Every mid-April, about 25,000 people travel to Bloomington for the Little 500, known as “The World’s Greatest College Weekend.”
A number of those attendees may keep up with coverage year-round, monitoring results and updates on Indiana University Student Foundation’s social media pages.
The majority know iconic teams: the winningest team like CUTTERS, or the disbanded programs Delta Chi and Willkie Sprint or an original group like Kappa Alpha Theta.
But what about the Little 500 cyclists who ride the track all throughout the school year? Those taking part in the race might have a better understanding of teams in the running to become champions — What do the riders think?
Delta Tau Delta
“Delta Tau Delta did really well last year,” Delta Phi Epsilon’s Lindsey Hunsinger said. “I follow a few of the riders. They post about their practices, and it looks like they’re working really hard.”
Delta Tau Delta, reborn after five years racing as JETBLACH from 2017 to 2022, finished second in the 2023 Little 500. The team is led by veteran Josh Herbst, who is one of the only four Little 500 champions in the field.
The Delts have consistently placed on the podium and within the top-10, averaging a fifth-place finish in the last nine races.
In Spring Series, the Delts placed five of their seven riders within the top-50 at Individual Time Trials with Herbst finishing third. They finished sixth in Team Pursuit behind solidified teams like Black Key Bulls, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Phi Delta Theta.
With history as a team and results to back it up, Delta Tau Delta will be a team to monitor come raceday.
CUTTERS
“I feel like CUTTERS is a very strong team,” Bison Cycling’s Haley Hahn said. “They could probably pull out a win again.”
CUTTERS, reigning champions and the winningest team in Little 500 history, will surely be running on highs from last year’s success and hungry for another win.
CUTTERS lost two seniors following the 2023 race. Peyton Gaskill and Torin Kray-Mawhorr played an integral role last year, aiding in its 2023 Spring Series win, where it won Qualifications and Team Pursuit.
Returning champions for the team are Judah Thompson and Jacob Koone. Jake Zarov and captain Danny Ghalayini round out the CUTTERS’ race roster.
CUTTERS placed seventh in Spring Series with highlighted results of Thompson’s second place finish in Individual Time Trials and third place at Miss N Outs.
With the backing and knowledge of the CUTTERS’ program, the team is focused on capturing win No. 16.
Black Key Bulls
“Black Key Bulls did really well in Team Pursuits, so they work really well as a team,” Kappa Delta’s Taylor Lock said.
Black Key Bulls has made headlines ahead of raceday. They failed to qualify for the 2023 race but have made their comeback clear this season.
BKB had notable finishes at the Indiana University Cycling Club’s “Candy Stripe Classic” home race in early March, placing two of its riders first in two categories. Captain Jack Handlos won the men’s C race, while Will Wagner won men’s B.
In qualifications, Black Key Bulls placed third, close behind Sigma Phi Epsilon and Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Notably, it finished first and second in team pursuits, displaying the depth of its roster.
Wiley Close, Kan Kikuchi, Wagner and Handlos rode on the team’s A-squad, “BKB 1” in Team Pursuit. Zane Snider, McGuire Wolfe, Brady Larkin and Zack Villarreal made up “BKB 2.”
Black Key Bulls has been a strong contender throughout its 16 races, always finishing within the top-10.
Sigma Phi Epsilon
“I watched Sigma Phi Epsilon’s qualifications, and I think they have a really solid team,” Alpha Omicron Pi’s Ella Maher said.
2024 Spring Series winners Sigma Phi Epsilon are on the hunt again. It placed podium for the past three years — an indicator of a successful and enduring program.
The troop pulled a gutsy solo breakaway on lap 71 of the 2023 race, lasting 87 laps in front before getting caught by the pack. Despite the team’s tired legs, veteran captain Will Pitts sprinted out of the bunch for a third-place finish.
Pitts, strong in both sprints and endurance, has finished top-five in ITTs from 2022-2024. Riders Alex Hamilton and Max Martin both turned in efforts worthy of top-10 in the 2024 ITTs.
Depth and experience for the team is clear, and with 2023’s unsuccessful breakaway in the back of riders’ minds to fuel them, Sigma Phi Epsilon could take the top spot.
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Kappa Alpha Theta
“Kappa Alpha Theta swept the women's Spring Series, and they have the all-star rider on the team,” Mezcla’s Luc Charlier said. “At the top level, it’s about mentality. They have all the confidence, so they’re going to take it.”
For the first time since 2011, a team swept Spring Series. Kappa Alpha Theta captain Audrey La Valle piloted the effort with solo wins in Miss N Outs and ITTs. La Valle, Bailey Cappella, Greta Heyl and Claire Tips rode to the Team Pursuit win, coming back from a five-second deficit to Teter.
Kappa Alpha Theta finished eighth in 2023 with riders Katie Humphries, La Valle and then-rookies Tips and Capella. With numerous veterans and the added wattage of the rookie Heyl, the team is sure to be a top contender in the women’s Little 500.
Teter
“Teter are always yelling, calling out and motivating each other while they’re on the track,” Americana’s Preston Fonseca said. “They look really strong out there.”
The 2023 Little 500 and 2024 Spring Series runners-up, Teter has historically had strong finishes on raceday. The team took pole position and the green jersey at 2024 Qualifications.
Like Sigma Phi Epsilon, Teter executed a gutsy breakaway attempt last year. It launched riders out front of the pack, breaking free near lap 50, but was caught with 20 laps to go.
Teter retained its 2023 raceday team: co-captains Jessica DiBella and Cecilia Ball, Allison Edgar and Seneca Simon.
Edgar and Ball placed seventh and sixth in ITTs. The two also made Miss N Outs finals, placing second and fourth. Simon and DiBella finished in the top-15 in ITTs.
With strong legs, a roster with race day experience and a historically successful program, Teter will surely be a team in the running for the top spot.
“Right now, it’s a race for third, because Teter and Kappa Alpha Theta are going to be one and two,” CSF’s Dan Lin said. “And either Alpha Chi Omega or Delta Gamma will be there in third.”
Surprisingly, all interviews with student riders placed Teter or Kappa Alpha Theta on the podium’s top spot. Both Alpha Chi Omega and Delta Gamma top-five in Qualifications, Team Pursuit and in Spring Series. Reigning women’s champion Melanzana placed third in the series behind Teter and Kappa Alpha Theta.
Delta Gamma co-captain Kate Burnett placed 11th at 2024 ITTs, followed closely by fellow co-captain Shannon Kerr in 15th and Bridget Pfau, who rounded out the top-20. Cayla Zimmerman finished 23rd for the Delta Gamma squad.
Alpha Chi Omega placed two of its riders in the top-20 at ITTs. Chloe Eades finished 15th and Grace Howard 19th. Evelyn Morris and Brenner Hanna of Melanzana notably placed 12th and fourth.
Melanzana is looking to complete the hat-trick and a few strong contenders will be aiming to take their talents to the podium. If the race ends in a bunch sprint, any team can make it happen.
