[NutBrnHair]

Chi Omega, FIJI capture Trike race wins


By Jocelyn Rardin Staff writer
By Samantha Brown Campus editor
October 24, 2005


Despite the rain and cold weather, Chi Omega sorority and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity won their respective Trike races Friday.

Although Phi Kappa Psi didn't win the men's race, fraternity members finished the race despite bike problems and an injured rider.

Mike McWhorter, a senior criminology major, competed in the race despite a torn ACL. McWhorter got injured while playing on the practice squad for the women's basketball blue and white scrimmage after he competed in Trike qualifications.

Since Phi Kappa Psi didn't have an alternate rider, McWhorter was faced with the decision to either compete with the injury or cause his team to forfeit the race.

"I wasn't going to let them not have a team," he said.

So McWhorter borrowed a knee brace from a teammate and competed. Nicknamed "Iron Man" by his teammates, McWhorter insisted on completing the last four laps of the race himself.

McWhorter was nicknamed "Iron Man" because he ran his tricycle across the finish line after the chain came off during qualifications and he competed Friday, despite his injury, he said.

FIJI and Sigma Alpha Epsilon battled for first place during the beginning of the men's race. Early in the race, a FIJI rider decided to take an extra lap without pitting to switch riders and Sigma Alpha Epsilon pulled away from FIJI as their rider became fatigued.

FIJI soon caught up and Sigma Alpha Epsilon had a small collision.

Near the fourteenth lap FIJI had a wreck with a Pi Kappa Alpha rider near the pits.

FIJI and Sigma Alpha Epsilon remained the only two teams on the lead lap for most of the race. FIJI tried to lap Sigma Alpha Epsilon but lost control of the bike momentarily.

FIJI finished the race in first place with Sigma Alpha Epsilon half a lap behind.

Hot Wheels winner during qualifications and FIJI rider Tristan Scott, a senior aerospace technology major, said it was a hard-fought race.

"There's a little Tony Stewart in all of us," he said.

Ben Miklozek, a senior finance major and member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, said, "We rode as strong and hard as we could."

During the sorority race, Chi Omega, who has won the last four years, was in first position at the beginning of the race.

The race began with Chi Omega and Sigma Kappa in the lead during the first lap of the race. By lap 10, Chi Omega was still in the lead with a steady pace.

Many members of the Greek community who were not competing, were in the stands, along with alumni, excited parents and students all cheering on their favorite teams.

Although the race was supposed to last 30 laps it was shortened to 20 laps because of the adverse weather conditions.

Linzi Lorenz, a Delta Gamma member, said she wished the race could have been continued.

During the last lap, Chi Omega was in the lead, and finished the race in first place, for the fifth year in a row.

In second place was Sigma Kappa, in third was Delta Gamma, in fourth Gamma Phi Beta, in fifth Alpha Chi Omega, in sixth Alpha Sigma Alpha, in seventh Alpha Omicron Pi, in eighth Zeta Tau Alpha, and in ninth place was Alpha Phi.

Amy Mattox, a Zeta Tau Alpha member, said she thought her sorority did an excellent job.

"We did well. It was cold and the track was wet, but we did a good job," Mattox said.

Lauren Montgomery, a Chi Omega member, said she is proud of her winning team.

"We did a good job. We pulled through it all and it took a lot of endurance. We were ready to finish the race if we had to," Montgomery said. "We are proud; it's our fifth year in a row."