Brosher's students whose work is included here are Sophie Doyne, Lauren McKinney, Josephine Wagner, Grace Urbanski, Dapho Sproles, Brady Owen, Anna Fernandez, Colin Slomka, Maddi Sponsel, Mason Munn and Levi Jones.
The Little 500 is the United States’ premier collegiate cycling race and one of Indiana University’s defining traditions. Founded in 1951 by IU Foundation President Howdy Wilcox Jr., the event, now known as “The World’s Greatest College Weekend,” was created to raise scholarship funds for students working their way through school. Wilcox modeled the race after the Indianapolis 500, which his father won in 1919. More than 70 years later, that mission endures, with proceeds supporting student-led philanthropy through the IU Student Foundation.
Nicholas Hartman
The race is simple in concept and chaotic in execution. 33 teams of four race around a quarter-mile cinder track on identical steel single-speed bikes with coaster brakes. Only one rider per team is on the track at a time, with teammates rotating in through high-speed exchanges in designated pit areas. The men’s race covers 200 laps (50 miles), while the women’s race, introduced in 1988, spans 100 laps (25 miles).
Sorority team Alpha Chi Omega claimed its first Women’s Little 500 title Friday after a lightning-delayed race at the Bill Armstrong Stadium. The outcome was far from certain when the race was halted on the 63rd lap, with RideOn Cycling holding a commanding nine-second lead. When the race restarted, that advantage was erased, allowing a lead group of 11 teams to re-establish for the remaining 37 laps. Alpha Chi Omega surged on the final lap to secure the win, denying two-time defending champion Kappa Alpha Theta a third consecutive title. The Alpha Chi Omega victory also served as redemption for sophomore rider Libby Lewis, who came up short in a sprint finish a year ago. Teter finished second, followed by Kappa Alpha Theta in third.
Kerry Hellmuth
In the 75th Men's Little 500, the Black Key Bulls survived a chaotic finish to secure the team’s third-consecutive title on Saturday. On lap 199 of 200, race leader Chi Alpha collided with Cutters in the first turn after making an exchange. The collision triggered a multi-team crash that upended the race. Shortly after the pileup, officials threw a yellow flag and froze the field, eliminating a final sprint and turning the last lap into a controlled finish that locked in the results at that moment. Black Key Bulls, just behind the lead group, avoided the wreck along with Cinzano to move into first and second, while Bears Cycling rode through — and over — the pileup to secure third.
–James Brosher
Each photographer is individually credited, and their original captions lightly edited.
Did we do a good job with this story?
