As the third weekend in April rolls around, and the campus prepares for the “World’s Greatest College Weekend,” students often turn a blind eye to the heart of the race, the riders. A week full of parties, parades and similar festivities is spear-headed by the students who have been preparing all year for this momentous event. 

Returning from spring break, students are unaware that certain teams have remained in Bloomington preparing for the qualifications race. One of these teams, who is new to the field this year, is Alpha Fasta Bika, a name that outlines their light-hearted and humorous spirit, as it is a spin on the normal Greek-affiliated teams. 

AFB is not the only team established this year, as other teams including Zeta Tau Alpha, Delta Phi Epsilon, Pi Beta Phi, and Chaarge joined in on the fun, while Alpha Xi Delta even decided to make a reappearance. The collection of new teams has spurred the total of registered teams to 34, meaning the field will likely be full for the first time since 2014. 

The inaugural Women’s Little 500 race kicked off in 1988, after a failed attempt by Alpha Kappa Theta to qualify in the men’s race the year prior.  The first race managed to collect 31 teams, just two shy of a full race. However, despite quickly gaining popularity among students, this year marks the most teams registered for Qualifications. 

In order for the race to be a full, 33 teams must complete Qualifications, a 4-lap race where all four members of the team complete one lap and an exchange. Each team has 3 attempts to complete an attempt, and their time gets scored and then ranked among the others. If more than 33 teams successfully finish Qualifications, then only the top 33 times will advance to the actual Little 500 race day, meaning one team will fall short this year. 

“Knowing that after 10 years we are finally going to fill a race and that I get to be on a team, hopefully that qualifies, that means a lot,” AFB member Mia Behringer said. 

Qualifications is the first step to the big day, and for many, a requirement to achieve their goal of racing in Little 500. 

“I think we just really want to make it to race day, so performing as well as we can as a team, practicing exchanges, and I guess giving it our all so we can make it to the finish line,” AFB team captain Bell Pastore said. 

Outside of just the events, Little 500 has grown to be about the community for the riders, especially within the women. 

“I was not expecting it to be this big of a community,” Behringer said. “It’s just so involved and I really like that they want to be here, and even if they don’t want to be here, they’re gonna be here and they’re gonna have fun with it.”

The anticipation continues to build with quals happening this weekend, and one thing is for certain, no one wants to be the team left out of the first full race in 10 years. The track will remain full throughout the week, and for the teams who qualify this weekend, will be a hotspot for other spring events before the big day.

Alpha Fasta Bika smiles for a team picture at the Little 500 reception.

Mia Behringer and Bell Pastore lead the team while learning the ways of the track.

AFB poses for a team selfie before a ride.

Three team members hold their new Little 500 bike in front of the track.