Ben Hall, born and raised in Polk County and a 2007 graduate of PCHS (where he ran cross country and track), won the Black Mountain Marathon on Feb. 23. He ran cross country and track for Montreat College; graduated in 2011. He is now head coach of the cross country and track teams at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Ga. The race is 2-in-1, including the Marathon and the Mt. Mitchell Challenge, which is an ultra-marathon. Hall did the marathon. He finished first, with a time of 3:16:35. (article submitted by Angela Hall. (photo courtesy Emmanuel College’s recent newsletter)