It's been said many times and many ways after a successful season opener, but it has to be said again after a stunning performance by the women's swimming and diving team on Saturday: Maybe this is the year that Harvard can take it all.

With a big crowd on hand at Blodgett Pool and high energy in the air, the Crimson left little doubt that it will be an Ivy contender this year, trampling conference foes Cornell and Dartmouth, 210-89 and 228-71, respectively.

Harvard swam the best it has in recent years, finishing first in every event except the last relay, in which it was disqualified. Depth was an important factor, as usual, but it was exceptional individual performances that marked this meet as a watershed competition for the Crimson.

Veterans, like senior Alexis Todor and junior Angie Peluse, who each posted wins with near-personal best times, proved the improvements made this year to the returners. In fact, Todor's 100-breaststroke time of 1:05.93 was only .3 seconds slower than her shaved-and-tapered time at last year's Ivy Championships.

"We've been racing in workout since the beginning of the season," Todor said. "That's a change in the way we've trained in the past. The team has gotten so used to racing several times each practice that one race alone is not intimidating and doesn't fatigue us as it may have in years past."

Apparently the new training style of Harvard Coach Steph Wriede, who is in her third year at the helm, is working like a charm.

The Crimson had four double event winners, and most swimmers could not hide their smiles after each race.

Peluse was an example of the team's excellent conditioning, winning both the 100-butterfly and the 100-backstroke. En route to her victories, Peluse powered past her opponents in the final 50 yards to finish both in sub-minute times.