Matt Wixon

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When the Lancaster girls won their seventh straight 4A state track title two years ago, coach Beverly Humphrey was astounded.

"It's unbelievable," she said. "I can't believe this keeps happening."

It happened one more time before Friday, when Mansfield Timberview ended Lancaster's eight-year reign at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.

Can a track program put together another streak like that?

I'll say no. Two reasons why:

First, the longest current UIL track winning streak is two years (Skyline girls in 5A, Lancaster boys in 4A and Rochelle girls – actually, it's one girl – in A.) So today's prediction will need to be remembered for at least the next six years before it can be proved wrong.

More importantly, however, is the magnitude of what Lancaster accomplished. To win eight straight, Lancaster needed to replace several star athletes each year, avoid injuries and perform under pressure that grew each season.

"It's a huge feat," Humphrey said Sunday. "Everybody who knows anything about sports knows that is something that happens once in a lifetime."

Several area teams have had streaks that, although they might not qualify as once in a lifetime, won't be repeated anytime soon. Here are some of the best from this decade:

Ursuline has won 19 straight TAPPS titles, and it spans two decades. This season's title came after a 2-1 win in the TAPPS Division I championship against Fort Worth Nolan, the state runner-up for eight straight years.

Chances of continuing: It's hard to doubt a team with a streak older than its players. But Nolan beat Ursuline twice in district play this season before Ursuline won when it mattered most.

Highland Park has had two close calls during this active streak of nine straight 4A titles, beating Southlake Carroll by 1.5 points in 2002 and Conroe Oak Ridge by four points in 2003.

Chances of continuing: Highland Park has had one serious challenge since 2003, and star Allison Arnold is a junior. She was named the outstanding 4A swimmer at this year's state meet.

Southlake Carroll's streak of 49 straight victories ended in 2007, with a 29-21 loss to Miami Northwestern, but it was an amazing streak. Carroll won three straight 5A state titles and was proclaimed No. 1 in national rankings in 2004 and '05.

Chances of repeat: Very slim. There are too many good football programs in the area, and interstate matchups of top teams are gaining popularity.

Over a span of five years, Highland Park was unbeatable, winning 114 straight matches. The Scots won four 4A team tennis titles during the streak, which ended with a loss to New Braunfels in the 2007 state final.

Chances of repeat: Not likely but possible. Highland Park is loaded with tennis talent, and it bounced back with an undefeated season in 2008. The current win streak is 20 matches.