Ithaca College Athletics

2008: Bell became Ithaca’s first qualifier to the NCAA Championship since 2006, and posted the team’s best finish at nationals since 2003. He ran a career-best 25:46 at the race, placing 128th in the nation. Bell’s berth at nationals capped an all-Empire 8, all-state and all-region season. He was runner-up to teammate Drew Hodge at the Empire 8 Championship (25:51) , and placed third at the NYSCTC Championship (27:23). At the NCAA Atlantic Regional meet he finished 27th with a time of 26:36. In addition, Bell was the individual champion at the season-opening race at Oneonta. He was twice named Empire 8 Runner of the Week in 2008.

2007: Bell ran in six races as a sophomore. He was the top Ithaca finisher in the final four races of the season. Bell earned first-team all-conference honors after placing sixth in the Empire 8 Championship with a time of 26:17. He finished 55th at the NCAA Regional Championship, running a career-best time of 26:13. He also placed 30th at the NYSCTC Championship. Bell recorded Ithaca’s top individual finish of the season, placing third at the Roberts Wesleyan Invitational. His performance led the Bombers to the team championship at the meet.

2006: Bell scored in eight of the nine races he competed in as a freshman, including a season-best finish of ninth at Roberts Wesleyan. He placed 18th at the Empire 8 Championship with a time of 27:16 and turned in a season-best time of 27:02 at Lehigh’s Paul Short Open, good for 38th overall.

High School: A 2006 graduate of Marcellus High School, Bell was coached by Susan Wright and Oscar Jensen. He earned five varsity letters with the cross country team, earning all-division, all-league, and team MVP honors. He served as team captain, team MVP, and was a third-team all-state performer, placing 20th at the state championship meet. He earned seven additional varsity letters with the indoor and outdoor track & field teams.

Personal: A sport media major, he is the son of Bill and Denise Bell.