“I think the key is execution,” senior 2V seven-seat Megan Smith said. “We have all the necessary pieces, we just need to perform start to finish consistently in the heats and the finals.”

The first four boat, which came in third at the Sprints behind Cornell, who didn’t receive an invitation to NCAAs, and Brown, has been putting in hours on the Charles tightening up its mechanics in pursuit of higher ratings and better speed.

Across the board, schools are sending competitive teams that have beat up on each other all year long.

“I think that nationwide, even in just the past couple of years, the level of competition has raised itself a notch and now there are a number of very strong programs around the country that are all legitimate contenders,” Lambert said. “It’s actually very exciting.”

The top 14 nationally ranked teams will be racing this weekend, including No. 1 undefeated Cal and No. 2 Princeton, which has lost this year only to No. 3 Ohio State.

“Six boats across with no real favorites means anything can happen, and it usually does,” Smith said.

Returning from last year’s 1V boat that grabbed a half-length win in the Grand Finals, are Lambert, senior four-seat Caroline Fisher and junior bow Heather Schofield.

“Once you reach a certain level in this sport, with margins that are so tight and competition that is across the board so fit and so technically skilled, I think the difference between winning and losing really comes down to who goes into the race prepared for, expecting, and demanding victory,” Lambert said.

Aside from the fact that the races are the NCAA Championships, there is added importance for Radcliffe’s 11 seniors that will be competing in their final events.

“There’s going to be a definite feeling of nostalgia as we line up on the starting line for the last time,” Lambert said. “But for me, anyway, its extra motivation to go out there and lay it on the line—to make the most of every single stroke, make the boat go as fast as it can, and really enjoy it.  I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

“We’re a team that pushes from all directions,” junior V4 stroke Meredith Coogan added. “The speed of the top boats is from not only their own talent, but the pressure from all around, including the novices and those not competing at the NCAAs.”

—Staff writer J. Patrick Coyne can be reached at coyne@fas.harvard.edu.