BLOOMINGTON — Nothing about Tabitha Sherwood’s Individual Time Trial run went according to plan, except the most important part—she won.

Sherwood overcame less-than-ideal track conditions on a borrowed men’s bike to win the women’s ITT in her fourth and final try. After finishing second two years in a row, Phoenix Cycling’s lead rider left no doubt she’s among the class of the field by posting a 2:35.48, exactly 1.5 seconds ahead of Delta Gamma’s Kristen Bignal in second place.

“Four years hard work finally worth it,” Sherwood said.

Sherwood’s time was the lowest since Kristi Hewitt ran a 2:34.0 for Wing It in 2009.

The bike she was supposed to ride was in bad shape after a teammate rode it through the heavy rain that fell sporadically on the track throughout the night. In need of a bike, Sherwood asked Cutters’ Erik “Trevor” Schwedland , who also happens to be her roommate, if she could borrow the one he used earlier in the night.

“I’m on the taller side anyway and can ride a men’s frame,” Sherwood said. “So I was like, ‘Hey Trev, can I use your bike?’ He switched out the bars for me and tried to get the saddle height right, but it wasn’t quite correct and that slowed me down a little bit.”

Despite the sudden change in events, Sherwood flirted with breaking the women’s ITT record. Her only regret was that she said she could have been faster.

“With all the conditions not going the way they should, I’m satisfied,” she said.

Sherwood’s road to the top of the ITT charts has been filled with adversity. Along the way, she’s plowed through anything that could have stopped her without slowing down.

Even after fracturing her hip and suffered a mild concussion last March, Sherwood didn’t miss any time in 2015’s Little 500 Spring Series, finishing second in both the ITTs and Miss-N-Outs even with the lingering injury. Then she paced Phoenix to a second place finish on race day in the team’s first ever Little 500.

Sherwood has become perhaps the most dominant rider in either field, men’s or women’s and is riding as well this year as she ever has in her cycling career. That’s only fed into her confidence a little over a year removed from her injury.

“I wasn’t anywhere near 100 percent (last year),” Sherwood said. “I’m in about the best shape I’ve ever been in my life. This is ridiculous.”

Sherwood made a nearly seamless transition from riding with Collins in 2013-14 to forming Phoenix in October 2014. Although the ITT crown is rewarding considering all she’s had to go through to win it, Sherwood couldn’t help but downplay it knowing the race is a little more than two weeks away.

“It’s ITTs. They don’t matter,” Sherwood said. “What really matters is April 15.”

Phoenix Cycling’s Tabitha Sherwood and Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s Joe Krahulik were the class of the women’s and men’s fields, respectively, claiming Individual Time Trial titles Wednesday night.

Sherwood timed in at 2:35.48, the lowest time since Kristi Hewitt ran a record 2:34.0 in 2009 for Wing It. That time was good enough to edge Kristen Bignal of Delta Gamma (2.36.98) and Kappa Alpha Theta’s Grace Bennett (2:37.98).

Krahulik finished his ITT run in 2:17.24, which is the second-best time in Little 500 ITT history, only trailing Hans Arnesen’s 2:15.78 from his ride with Alpha Tau Omega in 2005. Delta Tau Delta’s Luke Tormoehlen (2:19.60) was second and Cutters’ Nick Thiery (2:20.68) was third.

Sherwood’s ITT win was further proof that she hasn’t lost her footing among the class of the field. After finishing second back-to-back times, including with a fractured hip last season, she was able to break through for her first individual win in her fourth and final attempt.

Krahulik, only a sophomore, turned some heads with his time. The young rider has quickly made a name for himself despite having only one race under his belt.

Though Sherwood and Krahulik proved to be the class of the field, the weather was a dominant story throughout the day. Early on, strong winds and overcast skies made for difficult but manageable conditions until the skies opened up and rain started to fall around the same time to highest seeded riders were set to take the track.

At one point, the ITTs were delayed for about 45 minutes due to lightning strikes in the area. By the time the lightning stopped, the rain started again making for ever-changing track conditions that brought a mixed bag of results.

Some riders who stopped in the press box said the track was incredibly slow in the latter stages of the day. Others who went at nearly identical said it was as good as the track could get. The only certainty was that there was a variance in the way riders kept up with the conditions.

From a team perspective, Kappa Alpha Theta was thee most impressive team of the women’s field placing five riders in the top-14 spots. Bennett led the charge from third but was joined by Abby Rogers (6), Evelyn Malcolm (7), Rachel Brown (12) and Madeline Lambert (14).

Alpha Omicron Pi wasn’t too far behind with four riders in the top-15. Leigh Dukeman led the way from fourth spot, followed by Audrey Healey (9), Ali Oppel (10) and Michaela Ranft (15).

Not surprisingly, Black Key Bulls once again flexed its depth with seven riders in the top-23 spots. Charlie Hammon led the way for “The Peoples’ Champs” in fifth, followed by Nicholas Hartman (7), Spencer Brauchla (8), Xavier Martinez (13), Kevin Mangel (15), Noah Voyles (19) and Michael Chettleburgh (23).

Sigma Alpha Epsilon had Mitchell Sassemar and Andrew Krahulik join Joe Krahulik in 17th and 18th, respectively. Cutters put a pair of riders in the top-10 with Thiery in third and Erik “Trevor” Schwedland in 10th.

By the end of the night, separating teams was rather difficult. Considering the way the weather may or may have not changed the ITT outcomes and the relative parity across the top-25, no teams in particular established themselves as obvious front runners. For that, we may have to wait until at least Miss-N-Outs is over.

Until then, ITTs belonged to Sherwood and Krahulik. Because fast is fast.

 

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Women’s Top 25

1. Tabitha Sherwood, Phoenix, 2:35.48
2. Kristen Bignal, Delta Gamma, 2:36.98
3. Grace Bennett, Kappa Alpha Theta, 2:37.98
4. Leigh Dukeman, Alpha Omicron Pi, 2:38.89
5. Megan Hulbregtse, Ski, 2:39.20
6. Abby Rogers, Kappa Alpha Theta, 2:39.62
7. Evelyn Malcolm, Kappa Alpha Theta, 2:39.84
8. Julia Thomas, Teter, 2:40.30
9. Audrey Healey, Alpha Omicron Pi, 2:41.01
10. Ali Oppel, Alpha Omicron Pi, 2:41.02
11. Ashley Williams, Ski, 2:41.04
12. Rachel Brown, Kappa Alpha Theta, 2:41.33
13. Eliza Heath, Teter, 2:41.36
14. Madeline Lambert, Kappa Alpha Theta, 2:41.45
15. Michaela Ranft, Alpha Omicron Pi, 2:41.89
16. Fallon Lilly, Melanzana Cycling, 2:42.33
17. Kelsey Kluesner, Teter, 2:42.52
18. Alexandra Kolar, Alpha Chi Omega, 2:42.75
19. Sarah Rivich, Delta Gamma, 2:43.23
20. Brooke Hannon, CSF, 2:44.83
21. Jess McKune, Kappa Delta, 2:44.94
22. Lauren Brand, Phoenix, 2:45.06
23. Libby Momper, Kappa Delta, 2:45.15
24. Melissa Ragatz, Phoneix, 2:46.44
25. Nicole COughlan, Phi Mu, 2:47.16

 

Men’s Top 25

1. Joe Krahulik, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, 2:17.24
2. Luke Tormoehlen, Delta Tau Delta, 2:19.60
3. Nick Thiery, Cutters, 2:20.68
4. Kyle Knight, Beta Theta Pi, 2:20.71
5. Charlie Hammon, Black Key Bulls, 2:21.38
6. Ryan Romenesko, Phi Delta Theta, 2:21.93
7. Nicholas Hartman, Black Key Bulls, 2:20.50
8. Spencer Brauchla, Black Key Bulls, 2:22.80
9. Joseph Hunt, Forest Cycling, 2:23.54
10. Erik “Trevor” Schwedland, Cutters, 2:24.27
11. Evan Zehr, Wright Cycling, 2:24.70
12. Rob Lee, Phi Delta Theta, 2:24.87
13. Xavier Martinez, Black Key Bulls, 2:25.19
14. Chase Van Halen, Pi Kappa Alpha, 2:25.27
15. Kevin Mangel, Black Key Bulls, 2:25.28
16. James Welch, Gray Goat, 2:25.65
17. Mitchell Sassemar, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, 2:26.31
18. Andrew Krahulik, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, 2:26.56
19. Noah Voyles, Black Key Bulls, 2:26.63
20. Jeff Gough, Lambda Chi Alpha, 2:26.96
21. Sam Anderson, Sigma Phi Epsilon, 2:27.21
22. Jeremy Crawford, Sigma Nu, 2:27.39
23. Abel Berrera Duran, Delta Chi, 2:28.02
24. Michael Chettleburgh, Black Key Bulls, 2:28.02
25. Daniel Cox, Sigma Phi Epsilon, 2:28.33

.

The top rider in last year’s race is gone, meaning ITTs will be exciting from the very fact that there will be a new champion crowned.

Liz Lieberman stole the show in all regards last year for Kappa Alpha Theta, winning ITTs, MNO and then, of course, the race itself.

She’s graduated. Who will rise to the top this year?

The easy answer would be to say Phoenix’s Tabitha Sherwood, who has finished second in ITTs the previous two years. Here’s a look at all the top returning riders in the women’s field.

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BLOOMINGTON — It’s rare to see a men’s team go under 2:20 in Quals, or a women’s team go under 2:41.

Saturday, four men’s teams and four women’s teams beat those respective marks.

Back-to-back defending champions Kappa Alpha Theta put up the third fastest time in women’s qualifications history (2:36.634) to take the pole, and on the men’s side, Cutters recorded its fastest Little 500 qualifications time (2:18.779) in its long history to secure the men’s pole.

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MEN

1 Cutters 2:18.779

2 Delta Tau Delta 2:19.739

3 Black Key Bulls 2:19.958

4 Wright 2:19.982

5 Phi Delta Theta 2:21.540

6 Gray Goat 2:22.472

7 Pi Kappa Alpha 2:22.598

8 Sigma Alpha Epsilon 2:22.946

9 CSF 2:24.601

10 Beta Theta Pi 2:25.455

11 3PH 2:25.724

12 Sigma Chi 2:25.905

13 Alpha Sigma Phi 2:27.109

14 Lambda Chi Alpha 2:27.198 (second attempt)

15 Acacia 2:27.550

16 Alpha Epsilon Pi 2:28.142

17 Sigma Alpha Mu 2:28.152

18 Delta Chi 2:28.786

19 Pi Kappa Phi 2:28.985 (third attempt)

20 Phi Kappa Sigma 2:29.066 (second attempt)

21 Sigma Nu 2:29.100

22 Sigma Phi Epsilon 2:29.595 (third attempt)

23 Forest 2:29.816

24 Young Pioneers 2:30.057

25 Pi Lambda Phi 2:30.154

26 Phi Gamma Delta 2:30.180

27 Young Life 2:30.249

28 Phi Sigma Kappa 2:30.704

29 Beta Sigma Psi 2:31.416 (third attempt)

30 Theta Chi 2:31.891 (second attempt)

31 Tau Kappa Epsilon 2:34.857 (third attempt)

32 Zeta Beta Tau 2:35.504 (second attempt)

33 Delta Sigma Pi 2:36.094

DID NOT QUALIFY

34 Cru 2:36.154

35 Sigma Pi 2:36.182

36 Election Cycle 2:37.621

37 Phi Kappa Tau 2:37.855 (third attempt)

38 Air Force 2:39.340 (third attempt)

39 Delta Upsilon 2:39.349

40 Delta Sigma Phi 2:47.920

Kappa Sigma – three faults

WOMEN

1 Kappa Alpha Theta 2:36.634

2 Phoenix 2:40.053

3 Delta Gamma 2:40.455

4 Alpha Omicron Pi 2:40.687

5 Teter 2:41.630

6 Alpha Chi Omega 2:42.342

7 Ski 2:42.559

8 Kappa Kappa Gamma 2:43.734

9 CSF 2:44.654

10 Alpha Gamma Delta 2:44.819

11 Alpha Sigma Alpha 2:45.939 (third attempt)

12 Cru 2:46.051

13 Kappa Delta 2:46.273

14 Melanzana 2:46.901

15 Alpha Delta Pi 2:48.662

16 Alpha Xi Delta 2:49.705

17 Delta Sigma Pi 2:51.526 (second attempt)

18 Theta Phi Alpha 2:52.547

19 Gamma Phi Beta 2:54.711

20 Chi Omega 2:55.177

21 Independent Council 2:56.251

22 RideOn 2:56.323 (second attempt)

23 Wing It 2:58.497

24 Delta Zeta 2:58.657

25 Phi Mu 3:00.656 (third attempt)

26 Alpha Phi 3:00.739 (second attempt)

27 Delta Phi Epsilon 3:02.920 (second attempt)

28 IU Nursing 3:03.264 (third attempt)

29 Zeta Tau Alpha 3:04.473

30 Delta Delta Delta 3:12.148

31 Alpha Epsilon Phi 3:13.556 (second attempt)

32 Sigma Delta Tau 3:13.573

The only comforting thing about last night’s IU men’s basketball loss is that we get a full day of Little 500 Qualifications today.

There are 42 men’s teams attempting to qualify, and 33 women’s teams. Of course, there are 33 spots in the field.

On the men’s side, 31 teams return at least one experienced race rider, and 11 teams have at least three returning riders. On the women’s side, 29 teams return at least one experienced rider, and nine have three or more returning riders.

Keep refreshing this page for live updates and standings as the day moves along.

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