Indiana University Athletics
Glass Announces New Cross Country Course Named The Sam Bell Cross Country Course After Legendary Coach
6/16/2020 9:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Bloomington, Indiana – Indiana University Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass announced today that IU's newly-constructed championship cross country course has been named the Sam Bell Cross Country Course, in honor of Indiana University's late Hall of Fame Cross Country and Track and Field coach.
Glass also announced that a formal dedication of the new facility will be scheduled later this year consistent with COVID-19 developments.
"Sam was a legend in his profession and an extraordinary teacher and mentor to hundreds of students and colleagues during his 29 years at Indiana University," said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass. "His impact on his students extended well beyond their time in Bloomington, and his impact on Indiana University extended well beyond his coaching tenure. He is very deserving of this recognition and honor."
The Sam Bell Cross Country Course is a stand alone, dedicated cross country facility that encompasses 40 acres and is located in close proximity to the former IU Cross Course, just east of the 45/46 bypass. Bloomington-based Bledsoe Riggert Cooper James completed the design and engineering of the project, consistent with input from the IU Track and Field and Cross Country staff. The project cost approximately $540,000.
The new course occupies a portion of the former course's land while also extending to the northeast of the former location. Like its predecessor, the Sam Bell Cross Country Course is one of the nation's premiere cross country layouts that is worthy of hosting Big Ten, regional and national championship events. Among its features are 3K, 2K and 1K loops that can be configured to host races of all standard cross country distances, and it was designed to create great viewing options for spectators.
Bell enjoyed extraordinary success during his nearly three decades (1970-98) as IU's Track and Field and Cross Country coach. A six-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, Bell guided his teams to 26 Big Ten team championships (13 indoor track and field, eight outdoor track and field, five cross country), the most of any coach in IU Athletics history. Individually, his student-athletes won 20 NCAA championships, including four in cross country (Kim Betz, Michelle Dekkers and Bob Kennedy twice). They also captured 242 Big Ten individual titles, earned 147 All-America honors, and 10 competed in the Olympics. Before arriving at IU, he coached the Oregon State Men's Cross Country team to the 1961 NCAA Championship.
Bell's influence, meanwhile, extended well beyond Bloomington. He served as the U.S. Olympic Men's Distance Coach in 1976, and was inducted into both the U.S. Track Coaches and National Track and Field Halls of Fame before his passing in 2016 at the age 0f 88.
"The Indiana University cross country program has been synonymous with success on the Big Ten and NCAA levels," said Indiana University Deputy Director of Athletics Scott Dolson. "I am excited not only to see Sam honored in this way, but also for what the completion of the Sam Bell Cross Country Course means for our current students. They now have an exceptional course to compete and train on, one that also now honors the rich tradition of our program."
Glass also announced that a formal dedication of the new facility will be scheduled later this year consistent with COVID-19 developments.
"Sam was a legend in his profession and an extraordinary teacher and mentor to hundreds of students and colleagues during his 29 years at Indiana University," said IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass. "His impact on his students extended well beyond their time in Bloomington, and his impact on Indiana University extended well beyond his coaching tenure. He is very deserving of this recognition and honor."
The Sam Bell Cross Country Course is a stand alone, dedicated cross country facility that encompasses 40 acres and is located in close proximity to the former IU Cross Course, just east of the 45/46 bypass. Bloomington-based Bledsoe Riggert Cooper James completed the design and engineering of the project, consistent with input from the IU Track and Field and Cross Country staff. The project cost approximately $540,000.
The new course occupies a portion of the former course's land while also extending to the northeast of the former location. Like its predecessor, the Sam Bell Cross Country Course is one of the nation's premiere cross country layouts that is worthy of hosting Big Ten, regional and national championship events. Among its features are 3K, 2K and 1K loops that can be configured to host races of all standard cross country distances, and it was designed to create great viewing options for spectators.
Bell enjoyed extraordinary success during his nearly three decades (1970-98) as IU's Track and Field and Cross Country coach. A six-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, Bell guided his teams to 26 Big Ten team championships (13 indoor track and field, eight outdoor track and field, five cross country), the most of any coach in IU Athletics history. Individually, his student-athletes won 20 NCAA championships, including four in cross country (Kim Betz, Michelle Dekkers and Bob Kennedy twice). They also captured 242 Big Ten individual titles, earned 147 All-America honors, and 10 competed in the Olympics. Before arriving at IU, he coached the Oregon State Men's Cross Country team to the 1961 NCAA Championship.
Bell's influence, meanwhile, extended well beyond Bloomington. He served as the U.S. Olympic Men's Distance Coach in 1976, and was inducted into both the U.S. Track Coaches and National Track and Field Halls of Fame before his passing in 2016 at the age 0f 88.
"The Indiana University cross country program has been synonymous with success on the Big Ten and NCAA levels," said Indiana University Deputy Director of Athletics Scott Dolson. "I am excited not only to see Sam honored in this way, but also for what the completion of the Sam Bell Cross Country Course means for our current students. They now have an exceptional course to compete and train on, one that also now honors the rich tradition of our program."
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