But for the third time of the afternoon, Siilats staved off elimination and cleared the bar to advance in the competition. Once the other competitors failed to come through on their final try, the NCAA high jump title again belonged to Harvard.

"Kart is definitely a high-stakes performer," said Harvard co-captain Brenda Taylor. "She's been in these competitions before, and she knew what she had to do to compete against the best."

Siilats's performance was especially clutch since she had not cleared such heights since her Crimson debut on Dec. 2 against Boston College, when she leapt 1.84 meters--the best jump in school history outside of Gyorffy. That height would keep Siilats on top of the national performance lists for nearly two months before Gyorffy's return to collegiate competition following the Sydney Olympics.

Siilats' winning height at NCAAs was the lowest in the recent history of the event. Gyorffy and senior Erin Aldrich of Texas had both jumped in the 1.90's to win the title in the past two years. Aldrich, also a Sydney Olympian, had struggled all year and chose not to compete this season.

Siilats had built an impressive resume in the high jump before stepping foot on the Harvard campus. She was the Estonian national champion and record holder, boasting a personal best of 1.89 meters which she set at the 1999 World Championships in Seville.

With Gyorffy and Siilats, the Crimson has the beginning of a high jump dynasty. Gyorffy helped convince Siilats to transfer to Harvard.

"I was hosting [Siilats] when she visited," Gyorffy said last month. "She liked Harvard, and my example showed her that she could do well in track, and a good degree [was] very important to her."

Had Gyorffy chosen to compete at NCAAs, she and Siilats could easily have finished one-two in the meet.