Ciollo said that the Crimson has to prepare itself mentally to be a contender because of its struggles in recent years, including last year's seventh place finish at Heps.

"[Co-captain] Doug Lin and I are going to stress that we have to take on an attitude that we can contend," Ciollo said. "It has to be from day one, so it's in the back of your mind every day and can motivate you."

The women's indoor track team will have to rely on a willingness of some of its best runners to compete in unfamiliar events because of the team's relatively small size.

"We have a lot of solid 400 meter runners," co-captain Heather Hanson said. "Some of them might have to run races they normally don't. Also, because we're smaller, some people will have to step up and run in relays, even if they don't like to."

Princetop and Brown are consistent championship contenders, Hanson said, and Harvard was able to hang with both teams last year. The Crimson finished fifth at Heps in the 1997-1998 winter season.

The Crimson also has an almost automatic first place in every event that sophomore Dora Gyorffy competes in. Gyorffy was named the Heps Outstanding Performer last year.

Gyorffy won the high jump at 1.91 meters-a Heps meet record-and the triple jump at 12.27 meters-.48 meters better than second place. She finished third at the NCAA Championships, and Gyorffy defeated the winner-Erin Aldrich of Texas-at the Penn Relays.

Besides Gyorffy, Harvard returns Hanson, who finished fourth in the 55 meters and third in the 200 meters at Heps last year. It also has sophomore Marna Schutte, who was second in the 400.

Schutte is one of the three returning members from the school record-setting four-by-400 meter team.

Both the men's and women's teams should start their seasons comfortably this weekend when they host Boston College.

"B.C.'s a good beginning meet because they're not any Ivy team, and it's good experience for the freshmen," Hanson said. "I look for us to defeat them soundly."

Ciollo was even more emphatic.

"The fact stands that we have never lost to B.C. in an indoor dual meet, and we're going to remind them of that fact this Saturday," he said. "They're histori cally mediocre, and we'd like to start the season by blowing them out."