"She has always been a hard worker," says Sheehan. And, after looking at Dushay's high school accomplishments, "I knew that was only the tip of the iceberg.

"She's very level-headed and a very mature girl. That's unusual for a freshman," Sheehan says. "Those are important qualities for a Harvard student and especially for a Harvard athlete."

Dushay visited Cambridge three times before deciding to come to Harvard. The school's comfortable feeling and Sheehan and Head Track and Cross Country Coach Frank Haggerty's coaching philosophies were all important factors in her decision to enroll.

"They [Sheehan and Haggerty] didn't bother you," she says. "They let you know what they had."

While many college coaches exercise a firm hand on their athletes, Dushay sees Harvard as different.

"I haven't felt much pressure [from the coaches]," she says. "I feel like I'm expected to do the best I can. He [Sheehan] really places the emphasis on individual responsibility."

So far, Dushay has had little trouble adjusting to college life and college athletics.

"There are always girls to run with at your ability. It has never been a struggle to fit in," she says.

The potential History and Science concentrator finds juggling academics with athletics "challenging but managable." She has even found the time to be a student liason at the Institute of Politics.

Dushay's performances so far this year have been very strong.

She finished fourth for Harvard and 20th overall in a meet against nationally ranked Stanford and Northwestern. And last Saturday, she ran an outstanding race at Frankling Park to place second for the Crimson and third overall.

"I'm very pieased with what Jody's been able to do," Sheehan says.

Dushay has no specific goals in mind for the remainder of the season, but, as always, the team is foremost in her thoughts.

"My personal goal is to keep contributing to the team," she says. "If I can fall in place on the team, that will carry me through the bigger meets."

Sheehan has not set any goals for Jody either. With freshmen, "I want to let them get their feet wet without worrying about the burden of expectation," he says.

So, for now, Jody Dushay will continue doing what she does best: giving everything she has to the team.

Even if she's not number one.