McDaniel High School fielded a junior varsity girls cross country team for the first time this fall, a sign of how fast the program has grown.

"This is the first year we've been able to have a varsity and JV team," fifth-year coach Erik Mellgren told The Oracle, the school's student newspaper, in an Oct. 12 report.

Mellgren credited the expansion to a larger incoming class of runners and a summer training regimen that changed the team's trajectory. The girls ran morning miles together before the school year started, forming running groups that built fitness and friendships at the same time.

The payoff was immediate. Several runners set personal records early in the season, skipping the usual slow adjustment period, according to Mellgren.

"Physically their bodies are much more prepared, mentally they came in day one like 'we're gonna do this, we got this,'" Mellgren said.

Varsity captain Mira Shah holds the school's women's 5K record. She and fellow captain Mirai Ooglesbee have both posted new personal bests this season, placing them in position to qualify for the statewide competition through district meets in late October, according to The Oracle.

Off the course, the captains invested in team chemistry. Shah hosted a pre-season pasta dinner, and the team continued holding group meals before meets throughout the fall.

Sophomore runner Earlie Marable said the dinners take the edge off race-day pressure. Varsity captain Ooglesbee pointed to another factor behind the roster growth: many of the freshmen arrived with experience from McDaniel Youth cross country and middle school distance running.

The OSAA cross country plan book sets Oct. 31 as the cutoff date for league and special district qualifying meets. Fourteen teams earn automatic bids to the state championships through those meets, with two more selected at-large afterward. Individual runners who finish in the top 14 at a qualifying meet and are not on a qualifying team also advance.

The state championships are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, at Lane Community College in Eugene.