AUSTIN – Skyline girls track coach Chris Mitchell became a little choked up at the end of the UIL Class 5A state track and field meet Saturday. He said he had many emotions running through him.

Mitchell, who took over the program in August after longtime head coach Jimmy Sanders retired, watched Skyline dominate from start to finish at Texas' Mike A. Myers Stadium.

Skyline junior Tiffany Hines won the 100 meters and the Lady Raiders won the 4x100 and 4x200 relays and finished second in the 4x400 relay to claim their second consecutive team title. Skyline finished with 67 points, 35 ahead of second-place Houston Lamar.

Mitchell said he was excited, proud and relieved. Mitchell, who had been an assistant at Skyline since 2002, knew all about the school's strong tradition in girls track when he was promoted.

"This is a big relief. It was pressure," Mitchell said. "I felt the pressure to maintain and not fail these young ladies."

His girls certainly didn't fail him. Skyline won its fifth state team title since 2002 and eighth overall.

And it was never close.

Five events into the running finals Saturday evening, Skyline had already locked in the state title with 50 team points because of wins in the 4x100 (45.38 seconds) and 4x200 relays (1:36.72) and Hines' impressive performance in winning the 100 in a wind-aided time of 11.50.

Texas Tech signee Candace Jackson had been disappointed that she didn't qualify for state in an individual event, but it turned out for the best for the team. That allowed Mitchell to put Jackson in every relay, and she turned in strong legs each time.

"At state, we knew we had to turn it up a notch," Jackson said, "and we did that."

Skyline almost had to reshuffle its 4x100 and 4x200 relay lineups, however. Lead leg Alishia Perkins didn't arrive at the stadium until 30 minutes before the start of the 4x100 because she had taken the SAT test on Saturday in Dallas and was caught up in traffic. Perkins said Mitchell called her phone about 10 times asking, "Where are you now?"

"I thought I wasn't going to make it," Perkins said. "But I was glad I did."

So was Mitchell, who added that he had a backup plan in place. Mitchell was prepared for everything this season.

"We came out and had a great performance," Mitchell said. "These girls overcame a long season and stay focused. I'm very proud of them."