Nashville, TN -  At this morning's Nashville Country Music Half Marathon, Ben Hall (So./ Columbus, NC) became the sixth Cavalier to earn a trip to this year's NAIA National Track & Field Championships.  Hall completed the rolling 13.1 mile course in a new personal record of 1:15:48 (5:47 per mile pace), earning him his second consecutive trip to St. Louis.  Hall finished an astounding 9th place out of 22,749 competitors!

"Ben was a stud today.  The conditions were tough early on and the course was a bit more demanding than expected," said Coach Larios.  "He demonsrated great focus and determination this morning as he worked up and down the hills through downtown Nashville.  We're all so proud of him."

Last spring, Hall finished 19th nationally in the marathon, crossing the line in 2:38:53 and as the first freshman runner.

Team mates Justin Edwards (Sr./ Hunlock Creek, Pa) finished 39th overall in a time of 1:25:49 while Kayla Suiter (Fr./ Marion, NC) earned the 752nd overall spot in 1:44.39.  

Full results of the Nashville Country Music Half Marathon can be found by clicking HERE.

The six Cavaliers that have earned the right to represent Montreat College at the 2009 NAIA National Championships are Talisa Bishop (Sr.), Arilicia Adkins (Jr.), Lindsay Mizok (Fr.), Elisabeth Elliott (Fr.), Wilbourn Kosgei (Jr.) and Ben Hall.  This small contingent will now focus on their final training preparations for the track and field championships.  This year's championship will once again be held in St. Louis, Missouri, May 20-23.