Jim Bailey (Jul. 21, 1929 – Mar. 31, 2020) helped establish the middle-distance races as a foundation for the University of Oregon program during his years at the school, 1955-57.

An Australian by birth, he won the NCAA title in the mile in 1955, then became the first runner to break 4 minutes on American soil in 1956. Bailey ran 3:58.6 during a meet at the Los Angeles Coliseum, which was watched by an estimated 40 million television viewers in the hours following the Kentucky Derby. Bailey beat fellow Australian and world record holder John Landy in the race, which caused Australia to turn on him.

Later in the year, Bailey qualified for the Melbourne Summer Olympic Games in the 800 and 1,500, despite regularly being booed by his countrymen. In the Games, he faltered in the 800 semifinals and didn’t run the 1,500.

Bailey, who came to Eugene at age 26, spent his later years in Washington, working as a salesman for sportswear as well as real estate. He was inducted to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1981 and the University of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.