Because of the 93-degree heat, Thursday’s high school cross-country meet in Abilene was changed to a two-mile race instead of the usual 5,000 meters.

Goessel runners grabbed three medals for the boys and one medal for the girls’ team.

Jerah Schmidt led the Goessel team with a fourth place finish out of 69 runners. His time was 11:25. Jacob Schrag earned 14th place with a 12:29, and Dawson Duerksen 15th with a time of 12:42.

Brendon Hicks finished just ahead of Timothy Schrag, followed by Ben Olson and David Sawyer; rounding out the top seven runners for the Bluebirds.

Elyse Boden placed ninth in the girls’ division out of 33 runners, with a time of 15:03.

Porclein Unruh finished in 17:40, Katelyn Olson had a 18:56, and Alyssa Boden finished in 20:36.

“These first races of the season can be dangerously hot, so the host school shortened the race for the safety of the runners,” coach Brian Lightner said.