Bill Armstrong stadium has been quiet for weeks.  The track was freshly paved with the cinders and only a few construction workers straggled out from the almost complete, new grandstand. 

The only other people on the track were team Rydel.  A newly formed senior team that were looking to shock the rest of the Little 500 community. 

“We were really looking forward to shocking a lot of people this year in the race.” Captain Hunter Warren said.

The team was composed of four friends all from Chesterton, Indiana, that wanted to keep their athletic abilities up, while showing others that it just takes courage and a lot of effort to compete against other top riders.  This newly formed team was looking to end their senior year on a high note until the Little 500 race was cancelled in late March.  

“This was something that we just wanted to do, because we have always watched from the stands,” Warren said.  “We were really looking forward to the race and we were training hard for it.”

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all IU Little 500 related events were cancelled.  Students, faculty and staff were all bummed out by the news, especially senior girls’ rider, Rylee Ollearis. 

“This was really when us seniors were going to hit our peak,” Ollearis said.  “I am just bummed out and really wish I had one more chance to ride.” 

With COVID-19 impacting the race, this is the first time in its 69 years of racing that the Little 500 was cancelled.  From its start in 1951, nothing has ever impacted the race quite like this.  For some this could have been the last time they would ever be racing, but for others like Ollearis, she says she is itching to get back.

“If you would have asked me if I would ever ride again last month, I probably would have said no,” Ollearis said.  “But now, I am just itching to ride again even if it wasn’t in Little 5.”

For some like Ollearis, they are hoping to get one last chance to ride, but that is very slim.  A petition was started right after the race was cancelled, to try to move it to Fall of 2020.  Even after almost 3,000 individuals signing it, no news has broken that there will be a race in Fall 2020.  

Even with everything going on, Ollearis and Warren are both looking at the positives during this upsetting time in the world.

“I think we (seniors) will be the most rambunctious group to ever come out of IU,” Ollaeris said.  “We will always be coming back for homecomings, football weekends, basketball weekends and especially Little 5 weekends.”

“This was a learning experience for all of us (Rydel),” Warren said.  “We ultimately had the best time ever and we brought out a new athleticism that will hopefully carry on for years to come.”