Twin Sizzler: Former state cross country champ Hunter Heaton wins in tribute to Milt Place

MEDINA — It took a former cross country state champion to win the men's 5-kilometer run Monday at the 46th annual Twin Sizzler on Medina Public Square. Hunter Heaton was a sophomore on the Bees' 2007 Division I state championship team and placed 24th overall, but on this Fourth of July, the 30-year-old defended Medina's legacy as a running community by winning the race in 15:23.87, barely holding off a late charge up the final hill from 20-year-old Adam Jones (15:25.82). Heaton came out on top of a strong field that kicked off the day, with the first five runners all breaking 16 minutes. "When you come out here to the community, I'm not just representing me," Heaton said. "Sam Maynard, Jim Arthur, Donny Roys, I'm representing everyone that came before me and everyone that was coached by Milt Place. "It's fun to come out here and win in front of your hometown." Place was proudly represented by Heaton, who wore a cut-off T-shirt that read "Got Milt" and was adorned with his coach's picture. The longtime Medina cross country coach and 2022 Medina County Sports Hall of Fame inductee died of an abdominal aortic aneurysm last August on the day after the Bees' first cross country race of the season. The victory was an improvement for Heaton, who finished second last year. "It felt a lot harder than last year, even though last year I got second," he said. "I just wanted to come out here for Medina. Milt Place was my coach and this one is special because he's on my shirt." It took Heaton awhile growing to realize the impact Place had on him as a runner and person. Student and mentor occasionally butted heads when Heaton was in high school, and when Heaton chose to drop out of college, Place pushed him to go back. He went so far as to kick Heaton out of a Medina practice after he came home from college the first time, but Heaton eventually earned his master's degree in education. Along the way, he also ran at Oklahoma and became an All-American at Ashland. Now a physical education teacher at Akron Prep, a charter school on the city's east side, as well as the head girls cross country and assistant girls track coach at Hudson, Heaton appreciates the time and energy Place spent pushing him to deliver on his potential. "I see why he was so hard on me, because he saw so much in me that I didn't see in myself," he said. "That's what he did with every single runner. He saw your potential. He wanted you to do so well because he cared so much." One of the things the two butted heads about was the Twin Sizzler, which Heaton saw as more of an obligation than something to be enjoyed when he was in high school. "I never really liked it," Heaton said. "Milt made us run it as a workout, so I hated it. I decided since I'm still staying in shape, I might as well run it." His opinion on the race has changed over the years and now Heaton believes it is an opportunity to continue to inspire the next wave of runners coming through Medina. "I'm almost 31 now, and it's more than just a workout," Heaton said. "You're doing it to represent yourself, everyone that ran for Medina and everyone that will continue to run for Medina. If I can come out here and defend Medina — that kid almost got me — it shows all the younger kids from Medina that this is a possibility." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Results MEDINA — Overall results from events held at the 46th annual Medina Twin Sizzler: 5K Men: 1. Hunter Heaton 15:23.87, 2. Adam Jones 15:25.82, 3. Kyle Stober 15:51.89, 4. Wade Speeth 15:58.77, 5. Justin Carroll 15:58.87. Women: 1. Macy McAdams 17:59.11, 2. Jaylee Wingate 18:21.93, 3. Alysia Rogers 18:26.79, 4. Renee Harden 18:52.12, 5. Alissa Kolarik 19:22.24. 10K Men: 1. Ben Loeper 35:18.25, 2. Alan Dravenstott 36.23.89, 3. Dustyn Defoor 37:53.92, 4. Kyle Funk 37:55.31, 5. Adam Wheeler 39:14.66. Women: 1. Alysia Rogers 40:12.55, 2. Kelly Valco 41:01.86, 3. Stacey Rogers 46:59.24, 4. Becky Parks 47:29.22, 5. Tiah Wingate 47:56.50. 27-mile Bike Race Men: 1. Zack Schneider 1:02:34.51, 2. Brett McKay 1:02:39.08, 3. James Bolze 1:02:38.56, 4. Joe Parent 1:05:21.01, 5. Cameron Garoutte 1:05:23.90. Women:1. Elizabeth Neag 1:13:13.72, 2. Amanda Frost 1:13:14.25, 3. Mary Schultz 1:20:44.90, 4. Pamela Semanik 1:23:11.98, 5. Helen Jablonski 1:23:55.53.