Four of Arizona's best will travel to the indoor track and field finals in Arkansas this weekend with championship aspirations weighing on their minds, arms and feet.

Both the men's and women's squads will be sending two athletes to the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark. today and tomorrow to compete in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Leading the charge into the 25th state is defending NCAA pole vault champion Amy Linnen. Linnen, a junior, currently holds the NCAA's top mark of the indoor season with a leap of 14 feet 5 inches.

Joining the pole-vaulter from the 17th ranked women's squad is Seynabou Ndiaye, running the 60-meter dash. Ndiaye enters the NCAA meet with a 2003 Indoor Conference Championship under her belt. The senior transfer from Central Arizona, in her second year with the Wildcats, holds the UA school record in the 55-meter dash, a feat she accomplished this season in Flagstaff.

First-year head coach Fred Harvey believes both women have excellent opportunities to finish strong in Arkansas.

"We had a great indoor season. We are proud of what they did," Harvey said.

Harvey said he feels Linnen's experience in previous final meets will enable the junior to compete at the championship level. Ndiaye remains the coach's "dark horse," running out the number sixth position. Unlike Linnen, Ndiaye's only weakness may be her lack of championship experience.

The men's squad will bring two of its own as well.

Sophomore throwing sensation Sean Shields looks to avenge a 13th place showing at last year's indoor championships as a

freshman. On Feb. 8 in Boise, Shields set a school record with a shot put of 64 feet 3 inches. Shields will be throwing out of the seventh spot behind the toughest competition in the nation.

"Sean will have a great opportunity to be in the top five," Harvey said. "He has tremendous talent in front of him."

Another pole-vaulter, Kevin Opalka, is the other Wildcat joining Shields on the men's side. Opalka will be looking to make an immediate impact in his first NCAA championship meet.

Opalka's ability and momentum could propel the junior to high accolades in Fayetteville, Harvey said.

"Kevin has a shot, if he vaults the way he is capable," Harvey said. "He is a guy that could probably leave here with an All-American honor."

Team totals are tallied from points earned by the individual athletes. Because Arizona is only bringing four athletes to Arkansas, winning a national title is unlikely, but not out of the realm of possibility. Arizona walked away with a third place finish two years ago in the same facility in Fayetteville, with only four women competing.

Harvey remains both realistic and optimistic about his squad's chances.

"Having all four come out of here with All-American certificates, that's a pretty tall task, but we are here and we have an opportunity to do that."