Excessive Heat Puts Some Runners in Hospital, Causes Early End to Vikings' Cross Country Efforts

Geneva’s boys cross country team found an immovable object in its path during Saturday’s St. Charles East/Leavey Invitational at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve.

Moments before the start of the 11 a.m. boys’ race, officials called off the varsity event due to excessive heat and humidity.

Several runners who had competed in earlier races struggled with the 86-degree, 60-percent humidity and had to be treated on the course and taken via ambulance to Delnor Hospital.

“It was a decision made between the fire chief, Doc (St. Charles East trainer) Nielson and (athletic director) Jim (Bloch),” said St. Charles East assistant athletic director Rob Klemm. “With the amount of kids who had already been taken to the hospital, it was the right decision.”

“My boys are disappointed, but it’s out of our control,” said Vikings coach Bob Thomson. “It’s hard to argue with the paramedics’ decision. If they don’t have the emergency capacity to take care of it, then it’s a good decision.

“From what I heard, the ambulances were already full, so if anyone else was to have a situation you want to know there’s emergency help for those kids,” Thomson added. “From that standpoint, I wholeheartedly agree with it.”

It wasn’t the first time that the Vikings had a race called off due to excessive heat in recent years.

“This happened to us three years ago at the (West Aurora) Stampede in October,” said Thomson.