ORONO – Katie Page has made the most of her four years at the University of Maine.

This week, while finishing up final projects and studying for chemical engineering exams, the senior from Palmyra is gearing up for the America East Outdoor Track and Field Championships scheduled Saturday and Sunday in Dedham, Mass.

Page is among the standouts who hope to lead coach Jim Ballinger’s Black Bear women to the league title and their second straight New England crown.

“I’m excited to see what our team can do,” said Page, who will compete in the discus, javelin, shot put and the 4×100 relay. “If everybody brings their confidence and performs well, then our team will do really well.”

Page knows plenty about success. Whether it’s on the field, in the classroom, or in the weight room, she is a powerhouse.

At the America East meet, Page hopes to break through in her events after placing second and third in the discus, third and fourth in the shot, and fourth and fifth in the javelin in 2002 and 2003, respectively. She holds the UMaine women’s discus record with a heave of 143 feet, 2 inches.

“She’s not a huge person, but she’s maximized her efforts,” Ballinger said. “She’s dedicated to everything she does. Her speed helps in the throwing events as well and she’s very explosive, which is the important thing, and she has a lot of strength.”

Page, a two-year team captain, has been a versatile performer for UMaine. She is looking forward to competing with all her teammates one last time.

“Conferences is kind of the team culmination,” Page said. “People are excited and it helps to take some stress away from the academic side of things.”

Page should have a good shot at challenging for the discus title and she’s optimistic about making good showings in her other events.

“I’ve been second once and third twice in the conference in discus, so I’m definitely looking for the win,” she said.

Page also has been focused in the classroom. She boasts a 3.41 grade point average, which has helped land her summer internships with programs sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Two years ago, she spent the summer at the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland working on microgravity combustion. Last summer, she was at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, where she was involved in studying nanoparticles and neutron pattern diffraction.

While there, Page met a Nobel Prize winner and other famous scientists. This summer, she’ll return to Los Alamos before beginning graduate studies next fall at the University of California-Santa Barbara.

Los Alamos also helped open the door to further athletic endeavors for Page. There, she met a staff member who happens to be a U.S. Olympic weightlifter.

Page, who for several years has lifted weights as part of her training for track and field, began to look at the competitive side of the sport. Lifting with a Los Alamos co-worker and an Albuquerque-based trainer, she discovered something else at which she could excel.

At her first competition, the Colorado State Games, she qualified for the USA Weightlifting American Open in December. There, she finished fifth in the 69-kilogram division and qualified for the USA Nationals in March where she placed fourth.

“It worked out great. I was fortunate,” said Page, who is setting her sights high in weightlifting once her collegiate track career is over.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing where I can take my weightlifting,” she added, explaining she hopes eventually to challenge for a spot on the U.S. Olympic weightlifting team for the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.

For now, she is concentrating on making a good showing at the America East meet.

The UMaine women have several outstanding competitors. Among those expected to score for the women’s team are high jumper Claire Poliquin, middle distance runners Heather Jovanelli of Brewer (1,500, 4×800 relay), Hana Pelletier of Belgrade (800, 4×800), and Stephanie McCusker of Lisbon (triple, long jumps).

On the men’s side, Albany and Northeastern are the favorites. For UMaine, Ballinger is looking for strong performances from middle distance runners Donny Drake and Shawn Steinhagen, both of Portland, along with Scott O’Connor and Liam Gallagher of Auburn.

The Bears also expect solid efforts from hurdler Nathan Holmes of Westbrook, jumper Jesse Ludwig of South Portland, pole vaulters Troy Irvine of Waterville and Kyle Irvine, and jumper Scott Godsoe of Old Town.