Athlete Spotlight: A look at senior track athlete Kaitlin Bell’s time at Eastern.

Busy is not the proper word to describe senior Kaitlin Bell. Between her full course load, three jobs (at a gym, as a nanny, and at a convenience store), clinical rotation, and track and field, she barely has any time to herself. Bell, an athletic training major, spoke to the Waltonian while driving from one of her jobs to her off-campus apartment in Conshohocken. “This is the only time I have,” she chuckled. Between pumping gas and laughing about TikToks, Bell radiates laughter and positivity in everything she does.

Bell grew up in Mansfield, NJ in a family of six. One of four girls (including a twin sister), Bell’s tight-knit family is evidently one of the most important aspects of her life. Prior to the COVID restrictions being put in place, it was not uncommon for Bell to take a trip home to see her parents, siblings, or her dog Brandi.

Bell’s journey to Eastern was a long and laborious one. Originally committed to a different Division II school for track, Bell had a completely different idea of what college would look like in 2017.

When she didn’t receive enough financial aid from the other institution, she decided to seek out other options. She eventually found Eastern, and Bell says that “God knew Eastern was the place for (her)”.

When reflecting on the change of plans, Bell said that she “would be a completely different person” if she had never come to Eastern. Between Eastern’s commitment to financial assistance, the good heart of her coaches, and the friends she has made, Bell considered Eastern to be a place that made her a better person. She considers the friendships she has formed here at Eastern some of the best friendships she has, and

On the field, Bell is a pole vaulter and heptathlete. Originally starting her track and field career in jumps, Bell made the switch to her current positions during her freshman year.

During her time on vaults, Bell has made the podium a number of times and has made Eastern proud. She placed third overall at the 2019 MAC Championships in pole vault (a season in which there was no dedicated pole vault coach).

Over the past four years, Bell has grown into a bright young woman with great aspirations for her future. She is set to take her athletic training board exam in April before she starts her career. Bell is hoping to use the sports medicine education she received at Eastern in a sales and marketing capacity.

While she still has a few more months left in her undergraduate career, Bell is an extremely hard-working and admirable member of the Eastern community, and I am proud to call her a friend.