The mindset of the Summit girls cross-country team has taken a 180-degree turn from last season. With a young and mostly unproven group of runners, the team tip-toed around the thought of winning another state team title and coaches were cautious not to heave too much pressure upon them.

But, despite being reluctant to discuss it last year, Summit coach Kari Strang found that there is no escaping the longest title-winning streak in state history.

This year, they aren’t hiding from it.

“This group of girls went through so much last year, the pressure was insane,” Strang said. “They know what they are walking into and they are walking into it willingly. This year, instead of being afraid, we are embracing it. From Day 1, the girls have said they want to go for a state title.”

A year ago, there was reason to be a little apprehensive that the streak might come to an end. A group of underclassmen were put in charge to continue a streak that was as old — and older — than several of Summit’s top runners. The Storm rolled into the Class 5A state meet last November at Eugene’s Lane Community College with two freshmen, three sophomores and one senior in their lineup. It was the youngest team that Summit had sent to state during the streak.

And by the narrowest of margins, a 64-66 edge over Crater, the Storm won their 15th consecutive state championship and broke the state record for consecutive team titles in any sport (previously held by the David Douglas girls swimming team, which won 14 straight titles from 1967 to 1981).

With its four top placers — junior Eva Dicharry, junior Skye Knox, junior Taylin Bowen and sophomore Elizabeth Connolly — from last year’s team returning, and talented runners waiting in the wings, Summit not only has the talent to continue the streak, but is better equipped to handle the weight the ever-growing streak brings.

“We know how it feels to have that pressure without seniors,” said Knox, who finished 10th at last year’s state meet. “I think this year is going to be easier to cope with the stress. It is also going to be fun to teach the freshmen coming in how to deal with the pressure of the streak.”

One runner that could break out this year is junior Sophia Capozzi. Last cross-country season, Capozzi was dealing with a patella injury that required her to run with a knee brace. But in the spring, Capozzi proved to be one of the top distance runners during the track season. As a sophomore at state, she finished eighth in the 1,500 meters and fourth in the 3,000.

“I trained really hard this summer and through the track season,” Capozzi said. “The work is starting to pay off and I’m starting to see the results.”

And while the Storm appear primed to continue their winning ways, it won’t be easy with multiple strong teams around the state aiming to knock them off their throne. The three teams that finished behind Summit at the state meet all return their top talent.

Crater, which just missed its shot to take down Summit last year, brings back five runners that finished in the top 30, but graduated its top runner in Lindsay Siebert. Crescent Valley, which finished third, brings back two top-six placers, including three-time state champion Emily Wisniewski.

Locally, the Storm will be challenged by Caldera, which finished fourth at state last year, and returns all seven of its runners who ran at state, including Maddie Carney, who finished eighth as a freshman at state.

“Right now we are focused on us as a team,” Knox said. “We haven’t even had our first official race yet so we don’t know where everyone is at. I’ll start thinking about (the other teams) when we get later in the season when we get closer to state.”

Summit will have its first meet on Sept. 14 at the Caldera Wolfpack XC 5K, beginning its quest to bring home a 16th consecutive state title.

“At some point this streak is going to come to an end,” Strang said. “And we know that and we have to acknowledge that. It happens. But we are going to fight with every ounce of our being for it to not be this year and not this team.”