Why wasn't the high school portion delayed an hour or so? Wouldn't that have been the policy if there was lightning/thunder in the vicinity? Sure, it would have disrupted a number of evening plans, made parents wait/worry, but at least would have given the race organizers a chance to "get it in".
I wasn't there, but wonder why someone couldn't come up with a couple lawn sprinklers to cool overheated bodies at the finish? The Peachtree 10K in Atlanta is held every July 4th, and every year there are pictures of overheated runners - but they're usually getting soaked in a sprinkler.
I know it's not "cool" for college-aged athletes (or even high school kids) to run through sprinkler(s), but it helps.
Yes, I feel bad for those that overheated, but I feel worse for those who weren't allowed to race - this whole thing sounds like an over-reaction by lawyers. Maybe we parents should have been allowed to sign a waiver to let our kid race? I would have! And I really don't understand the thing about "no refunds for the HS race". OK, now I'm convinced this race was run by lawyers!