"The women have a very strong team this year," Sheehan said. "They could go far."

Led by the reigning 800-meter NCAA champion and All-America selection, the women should be able to match their second-place finish in last year's Heptagonal Championship. Rainey already has qualified for the NCAAs in the 800 with a time of 2:06.8 at the Harvard Invitational.

"Personally, I would like to win the NCAAs in March," Rainey said. "As a team, I would like us to be contenders at the Heptagonals, with a finish no lower than third."

Co-Captain Beth Pfefferle, who finished third in the 800-meter in the NCAAs, also provides valuable points.

The Pack

Other runners include Senzeni Steingruber and Wanita Lopeter at the 400-meter slot. Running the long distances are All-America Suzanne Jones, cross-country finalist Joanne Dushay, and ECAC qualifier Rachel Lewis.

Catherine Griffin leads the women in the field events. Griffin set two records at the invitational in the shot put and the 20-lb. weight. Her 46-ft., 7-1/4-in. throw was good enough to earn her a spot in Harvard's record books as the longest women's shot put ever.

"The women have a serious chance of winning it all," Mee said. "The men are looking to surprise."