Last year, Gyorffy captured third in both the indoor and outdoor NCAA track & field championships in the high jump.

But since then she has repeatedly broken her own Harvard records. There is no secret to her progress, However, as Gyorffy attributes This improvement to the preseason Conditioning she did in the fall.

"I worked very hard to improve my strength in October and November," Gyorffy said. "I practiced very hard every day since then."

Amazingly enough, given her incredible success, the sophomore has jumped further and higher in practice than she ever has in competition. Gyorffy feels it's just a matter of time before she can put it all together.

"I have jumped 6'4 a few times in practice," Gyorffy said. "That's why I get so frustrated-because I know my body can do more than I have done in competition."

Gyorffy explains that at some competitions, circumstances have been out of her control. For example, she had flight trouble due to the inclement weather the night before the NCAA Championship meet earlier this month. She did not land in Indianapolis until after 10 p.m. that evening. The facility had to stay open after 11 p.m. just so that she should could get a practice in before going to bed.

The next morning, the third-seeded Gyorffy surpassed second-seeded Nicole Forrester of the University of Michigan with a jump of 6'2.2 to finish ahead of Forrester in second. First place went to Erin Aldrich of the University of Texas, who jumped 6'3.5, a height Gyorffy cleared less than two weeks earlier in the Ivy League championship meet.

One can only speculate, but had the cards fallen right for her, things might have turned out a little differently in Indiana. Gyorffy, meanwhile, remains pleased, but unsatisfied with her performance.

"Considering the circumstances, I did okay," Gyorffy said.

But circumstances aside, Gyorffy has continually performed at leverls that far exceed her Ivy League competition, and there is no reason to believe that things will change in the spring.

Gyorffy has just returned to the track this week after taking a break form training. Coach Frank Haggarty had her take a week off so she could recover from the indoor season and begin to build again for the spring.

Not surprisingly, the confident Gyorffy expects to improve this spring by leaps and bounds. She plans on starting off easy-against her easier competition-so that she can peak through June and into July, when the national and international meets occur.

"The Ivy League competition does not force me to jump my highest," said Gyorffy. "I want to be jumping my highest for the championships in June and the summer competition."

At the end of the school year, Gyorffy will likely travel to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships hoping to improve on her sensational winter performance.

She will then head home to Budapest to train for various competitions where she will be representing her country.

Two of these competitions include the Student Games and the Under-22 European Games.

"I will be satisfied when I know I am jumping my best," Gyorffy said. "I am ready for it, I have been preparing my body for achieving my best every day."

With her competitive nature and fighting spirit, it seems clear that Gyorffy will not be satisfied until she captures high jump title in premier meets-such as the NCAA championships. She will not allow anything but the best from herself.

And with her talent and determination, it seems foolish to think that Gyorffy will be denied.