[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.
[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.