Teams in sports like football and basketball can easily intimidate opponents with their size and speed, even before a game.

Belen's cross-country team draws looks of awe before it even runs onto a course from just its sheer numbers.

Fielding its largest high school roster ever -- 47 runners -- Belen's cross-country dynasty appears poised to claim its fourth consecutive state championship this season. The streak of three in a row is already a record for a Miami-Dade County boys' team.

The Wolverines were moved to Class 3A, where they will be the only Dade team in the classification.

``We're very fortunate to have kids that have been in our program for years and have developed by learning from others that have come before them,'' Belen coach Frankie Ruiz said. ``The teams are a little different this year, but the goals are still the same for these kids.''