Fielding a group of 90 or more students running in the early morning hours was a common sight last month for Hays Rebel head cross country coach Traci Hightower.

Those numbers, which have grown over the course of the past few seasons, can partially be attributed to the high volume of students on campus.

The biggest motivator stems from the success Hightower and the cross country program has had in recent years.

Four straight years of a girls cross country athlete reaching the state meet will gen...