Hall leads M. X-Country quest for league banner

Ranking sixth on the all-time 5,000-meter list in Penn track and field, senior co-captain Joe Hall has added a new dimension to both the track and cross country teams. According to coach Charlie Powell, Hall is the team's "psyche and general feeling of what and who they are." Hall began running to keep in shape for football and basketball during high school. By the fall of his junior year, Hall placed fifth in the state track championship. During his senior year, he finished fourth in the state track meet. "He made a reputation for himself in high school," Powell said. Hall will lead Penn at the Heptagonal Championships this weekend. "Joe is the type of runner who is always ready to go out there and do the job," senior co-captain Terry McLean said. Hall's personal record of 14 minutes, 21 seconds came as a freshman when he finished second to teammate Mike Lyons at the Heps. Hall took the lead with three laps to go, but Lyons edged up to take first. Hall said this race was one of his greatest achievements. Though he prefers track to cross country, the biggest accomplishment of his career was his finish at the IC4As, the national qualifying meet, his sophomore year. Hall missed qualifying for the NCAAs by one place. Powell distinguished Hall as a leader who gets everyone fired up. "He is always striving to run the perfect race," Powell said. Though Hall has a tremendous amount of talent, he lacks confidence and needs to work on building it up, according to Powell. However, Powell said "as a captain, he gives the team its personality."