University of Rochester women's track & field senior Megan Bell was named the Liberty League's 2024-25 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and will be the conference's nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year, as announced by the conference on Thursday.
 
"We are so excited to see Megan recognized as the Liberty League Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year. We often tell prospective students that one of our program's main goals is to create an environment where our student-athletes can balance academic and athletic excellence, and Megan has been the absolute embodiment of that vision," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Sam Albert said. "She has reached the pinnacle of athletic success as a two-time National Champion and ten-time All-American, while also putting together an impeccable academic record as a biomedical engineering student and three-time Academic All-American. Megan has been an incredible ambassador for our University, and I think she represents everything that's great about NCAA Division III athletics. It's hard for me to imagine a more deserving recipient for this honor."
 
On the track, Bell graduates as a two-time National Champion in the indoor 4x400-meter relay, a 10-time United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTCCCA) First-Team All-American, an 18-time USTFCCCA All-Niagara Region selection and a 17-time All-Liberty League honoree.
 
This year, Bell added four All-America honors to her tally, finishing in the top three in the 800 meters at both the indoor and outdoor championships, while helping the 'Jackets to top-eight finishes in both the indoor and outdoor 4x400-meter relay. Bell was also named the Liberty League Track Performer of the Meet and both the indoor and outdoor Liberty League Championships, and added eight Liberty League Track Performer of the Week honors to her total tally (13), as well as one USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honor.
 
One of the most decorated runners in UR program history, Bell holds eight school records, four Liberty League records, four Liberty League Championship records and two All-Atlantic Region Championship meet records.
 
Nationally, Bell also ranks in the top 15 on the USTFCCCA All-Time NCAA Division III Top-25 Individual Event Rankings in six events, holding the DIII National Record in the indoor 4x400-meter relay, 3:44.84, set at the 2023 NCAA DIII Indoor Track & Field Championships, as well as top-10 marks in both the indoor and outdoor 800 meters set earlier this year.
 
A biomedical engineering major, Bell became just the fourth three-time College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA) in school history this year, notching her second-straight First-Team nod earlier this summer. In addition to being a three-time CSC Academic All-American, Bell is also a four-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree and a three-time Liberty League All-Academic selection.
 
This past fall, Bell was named one of UR's Lysle 'Spike' Garnish Scholar-Athletes, while this spring, the senior was recognized as the department's Merle Spurrier Award winner, awarded to the department's top female athlete each year. Additionally, the Wynantskill, NY native was also elected Phi Beta Kappa, served as President of Tau Beta Phi, was a member of Alpha Eta Mu Beta, and was previously selected as one of UR's Provost Circle Scholars.
 
Bell becomes the third Yellowjacket in school history to earn Liberty League Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors, and is UR's second-consecutive honoree after Madeline O'Connell was selected in 2023-24.
 
The Woman of the Year selection committee will next name the Top 30 honorees, which include 10 women from each division. From the 30 honorees, the committee will then select and announce nine finalists, three from each NCAA division. The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics will then review the finalists and name the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year.
 
The NCAA Woman of the Year program has recognized graduating female student-athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership since its inception in 1991.