In the world of NCAA athletics, you can be an All-America even if you're not American.

Sophomores Karen Goetze and Ian Carswell--natives of France and Canada, respectively--found themselves in this latest NCAA-conjured conundrum March 11 at the RCA Dome in the Indianapolis, Ind.

Goetze and Carswell were both named All-Americas for their performances in the NCAA Track and Field Championships, held deep in the heart of Hoosier Country this weekend.

Carswell clocked in at 8:08.64, placing seventh in the 3000 meter. Goetze--who is quick to point out that the she has dual citizenship in France and the United States--came in at 2:08.99, good enough for eighth in the 800.

Arkansas's Jason Bunston (8:06.81) took first in Carswell's 3000-meter race, while three-time winner Wisconsin's Amy Wickus (2:04.86) crossed the line before everyone else in the 800.

Goetze battled Julie Cote of Wisconsin-Madison for the third and final place in a surprisingly slow preliminary heat.

"The heat went out much slower than I thought it was going to," said Goetze, who is the first Harvard athlete to earn indoor track All-America since 1990. "I assumed it was going to be a fast pace. I knew it was going to be a sprint at the end when I heard the 400 split was 64 seconds."

Goetze edged Cote by only to two-hundredths of a second to make it into the finals.

In fact, the heat was close all around. First-place finisher Wickus crossed the line only 20-hundredths of a second in front of last place finisher Cote.

"I had been second or third position around the 400-meter point," Goetze said. "At some point, I got passed. I knew, however, that there was four of us running and that only the first three would make it. Right at the end, I nipped [Cote].

"The race was so close we couldn't tell who got it in. We had to wait around for a couple of minutes to see who got in," she said.

For Goetze, it was a different--and more disappointing--story in the final.

In a congested ("a lot of pushing and shoving" in Goetze's words) and faster race the sophomore crossed the finish line dead last.

"After I heard the first 400 split, I realized that I was running last," Goetze said. "It was sort of a shock. I didn't hear anyone behind me. I just tried to finish up anyway I could."

Despite the lackluster finish, Goetze remains upbeat about the 1994-95 indoor season.

"I am very happy with the season," Goetze said. "My only regret is that I didn't produce the time that I am worth. I feel like I could have possibly run a 2:06 or 2:07. I was sort of expecting to run faster than a 2:08:99. But my main goal was All-American and that goal has been achieved."

For Carswell, the preliminary heat also took its toll. In the final, the sophomore could only leg out a seventh place finish.

"I didn't feel so well in the final," said Carswell, who is the first male indoor track All-America since 1987. "I think I could have done a little better if I had run to my potential. Unfortunately, my legs didn't have it on the day."

The race was a typical championship race--starting off slowly and finishing in a burst.

"It was a pretty tactical race," Carswell said. "That's usually the race goes at Championships like this. The times were a little slower than they could have been."

Nevertheless, the sophomore is pleased with his performance.

"Looking at the season in general, I am happy with the seventh," Carswell said.

And, as for the little "All-America." but not American problem, the Canada-native doesn't care.

"I know what the title means," Carswell said. "The term American--I don't think about it much. I just know what it represents as far as achievement goes."