In 2002, the Columbia Women's cross country team won its first of four consecutive team Ivy League Championships. A key figure in the championship run for the Lions was 2004 graduate Caitlin Hickin from Queensbury, N.Y.

The four-time all-state runner from Queensbury High School came to Columbia in 2000 and garnered first team All-Ivy League honors in her first year. Hickin went on to earn All-Region honors and immediately demonstrated that she would be a force for the Lions.

In a fantastic sophomore season, she led the Lions at the 2001 Ivy League Heptagonal Championships with a second place individual finish, then the highest finish in program history. Her strong year continued as she earned All-Region honors with a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Northeast Regionals. Hickin became the first Columbia Women's cross country All-American by placing 20^th at the NCAA National Championships.

Following her cross country success, Hickin turned her focus to the indoor track season where she continued to flourish. She broke two indoor school records in the 5000m and the mile during the 2001-02 season.

In 2992, Hickin led the women's cross country team to its first Ivy League title. For the third consecutive season she garnered All-Ivy League and All-Regional honors.

As captain in her senior season in 2003, Hickin led Columbia to its second Heps title behind a then-Columbia record time at Van Cortlandt Park of 12.21.0. Hickin finished her collegiate career as the only Lion to compete at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in all four years. She currently ranks amongst the top five in Columbia history in the indoor track 5000m and top ten in the indoor mile.