Scorching temperatures weren’t enough to slow down the Marion High School cross-country team in Thursday’s season opener at Abilene.

But they were enough to knock the high school race down to two miles and the junior high to a mile.

The course loops through the golf course with the runners repeating a few segments of a nice mix of hills and straight paths.

Warrior coach Grant Thierolf knew he had greatness waiting with the arrival of fabulous freshman Heidi Grimmett.

Grimmett held her own against a few returning state champions, taking third place in 14:48.

“She will get faster as the season goes on and we look forward to great things from her,” Thierolf said.

Newcomer Alfwenna Meyer missed a medal by 9 spots at 29th, but still recorded a top 30 finish in 20:05.

Bethany Grimmett rounded out girls’ high school competition, taking 33rd in 25:16.

The boys’ division got off to a strong start, also, with Tristen Dye running a 12:56 for 18th place and a medal.

Colton Boudreaux just missed 20th place, running a 13:03 to take 21st.

Christopher Berry and Nathan Shields were 31st and 33rd and Hayden Mendoza wrapped up Marion’s finishers in 14:58 for 46th.

Gavin Wasmuth’s strenuous summer of training will pay off at some point this season.

Wasmuth paced the Wildcats’ junior-high boys field, taking fourth place in 5:40, nearly a minute quicker than ninth-place finisher Luke Wessel’s time of 6:34.

Quenton Taylor and Wyatt Helmer took 21st and 34th with times of 6:48 and 8:09.

As the Wildcats’ lone junior high girl, Miriam Mason put out an impressive showing in her first race, taking seventh in 7:03.

Marion travels to its biggest meet during the regular season Thursday at Hesston in high school competition.

The freshman boys are set to get underway at 3:55 p.m. with the sophomore girls scheduled for 4:20.

Junior boys’ action begins at 5:35 and the senior girls are set for a 6 p.m. start.