Alan Bell (sprinter)

Alan Bell
Personal information
Full nameAlan Richard Bell
NationalityBritish
Born (1957-06-10) 10 June 1957 (age 67)
Wakefield, England
Sport
SportSprinting
Event400 metres

Alan Richard Bell (born 10 June 1957) is a British sprinter.[1] He competed in the men's 400 metres at the 1980 Summer Olympics.[2]

Bell was a member of the Wakefield Harriers.[3] He started his career in the 100 metres and 200 metres, winning medals at the Yorkshire Athletics Championships and Northern Championships, before moving up to 400 metres.[3] In July 1977, Bell represented Britain in a meeting against France in Nice.[4]

Bell opened his 1978 season with wins over both 100 and 300 metres, highlighting the spring Liverpool Harriers meeting in Kirkby.[5] He first represented the United Kingdom in June 1978, in a dual meet with East Germany in Crystal Palace, London.[3][6]

By winning the silver medal at the 1980 UK Athletics Championships, he qualified for the Olympics, at which he reached the semi-finals but did not advance to the finals due to a stomach bug.[3]

In 1980, Bell worked at St Thomas' Hospital in Middlesex on weekends.[7]

Bell competed at the 1981 Anniversary Games in a specially-arranged race over 300 metres against Olympic decathlon champion Daley Thompson, hurdler Bill Hartley, and other runners.[8]

At the 1982 West Yorkshire Championships, Bell led the "highlight of the meeting" by running 47.8 seconds to win the 400 metres.[9]

Bell's brother is Roger Bell, silver medalist in the 400 m hurdles at the 1979 UK Athletics Championships.[10] After retiring from athletics, he worked in medicine.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Alan Bell". Olympedia. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Alan Bell Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Wakefield's International Athletes". www.wakefield-harriers.co.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Few barriers to Bell's progress". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 2 July 1977. p. 8. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Alan rings up double to start the season". Liverpool Daily Post (Merseyside ed.). 20 March 1978. p. 13. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  6. ^ SYND 11 6 78 EAST GERMANY BEAT UK IN ATHLETICS COMPETITION IN LONDON, 24 July 2015, retrieved 11 January 2024
  7. ^ "Longwood points spree--but it's Wakefield's title". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 1 September 1980. p. 9. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  8. ^ "All-star line-up for games". Hull Daily Mail. 27 July 1981. p. 9. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Taylor's big effort to retain trophy". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 24 June 1982. p. 16. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  10. ^ "BUSY WYMARK". Hull Daily Mail. 10 August 1982. p. 5. Retrieved 11 January 2024.


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