He runs the back trails of Ithaca every Sunday morning. He makes headlines every Saturday at meets. He sweats and strains to improve every single day. Senior Curt Bell may be working to be the best he can be, but he’s not in it for the individual glory.

“My No.1 goal is to get the entire team to nationals,” Bell said. “It’s been the goal since day one on campus. I just want to do my part to get the team to nationals. The team has brought so much to me. I can’t think of anything better than going to nationals in my senior year.”

Bell earned all-division, all-league and team Most Valuable Player honors at Marcellus High School. Despite his achievements he said he came to the men’s cross country team a little apprehensive.

“I really wanted to make the team,” Bell said. “The first couple weeks here were not easy. It was significantly more mileage than I had in high school. There were some tough races early on, but after adapting, I started getting better.”

After a good freshman year, scoring in eight of his nine races, Bell continued pushing and improving training methods to better his personal performance. He received all-conference honors, placing sixth in the Empire 8 Championships, finishing 55th in the NCAA Regional Championships and placing 30th at the New York State Collegiate Track Conference Championships.

“The biggest thing was probably doing summer training before sophomore year,” he said. “I knew what I was in for. I did quite a bit more work, and I made big improvements. I started doing Sunday morning runs — it’s the sort of thing I’ve done a lot more of and paid more attention to.”

Head Coach Jim Nichols said Bell is a dedicated athlete.

“He has been working hard to improve himself from the first day he stepped foot on campus,” Nichols said.

Last season, Bell had his best season so far as a Bomber. He qualified for the NCAA Championships, placing 128th in the nation. He was named to the all-Empire 8, all-state and all-region teams. He was also runner-up in the Empire 8 Championships and placed third in the NYSCTC Championships. Though the accolades are incredible, Bell said individual goals weren’t on his mind throughout his career.

Nichols said Bell had a great race at nationals but knows he would rather see his team get there.

“He has had a taste of that,” Nichols said. “He wants to return with the team and share the experience with his friends.”

In his first meet this year, Bell placed first at the Janette Bonrouhi-Zakaim Memorial Run in Ithaca. Nichols said Bell is the only runner who has broken 16 minutes on that course. His leadership on the course is evident, but his teammates also feel the off-the-course effects.

“He’s a great leader,” freshman Billy Savage said. “He takes his training seriously. He’s the life of the team, and everybody looks up to him.”

Nichols said Bell’s teammates all appreciate the effort he puts in as a leader.    

“He’s a captain elected by his peers,” Nichols said. “They show respect for him and his talent. The traits that he shows are traits of his dedication.”

Savage said as a freshman, it’s intimidating to be around upperclassmen, but Bell lightens the mood and makes him feel like there is a connection between all of the members of the Blue and Gold.

“He made me feel more confident in myself,” Savage said. “He’s someone I can look up to.”

Box Score - 2009 Oswego State Invitational - 9/12/2009