Jim Bailey (July 21, 1929 – March 31, 2020) helped establish the middle-distance races as a foundation of the University of Oregon track and field program during his years at the school, 1955-57.
The Australian native came to Eugene at age 26. He had already won national titles down under in the 880 and qualified for the Commonwealth Games. As a Duck, he won two conference titles and the 1955 NCAA championship in the mile. Bailey was the first of many sub 4-minute milers coached by Bill Bowerman at UO.
Bailey's biggest moment came in Los Angeles when he became the first runner to break four minutes in the mile on American soil in 1956. Bailey ran 3:58.6 in a special mile race at the Los Angeles Coliseum as part of a USC-UCLA dual meet. Bailey was supposed to be the pacer (rabbit) for fellow Aussie John Landy, but continued to race Landy hard until his bold pass gave him the victory. The battle was watched by an estimated 40 million television viewers in the hours following the Kentucky Derby.
Because of that result, Bailey became unpopular in his native land and was booed throughout the Olympic Trials. He qualified in both the 800 and 1500 meters but did not factor in either event at the Melbourne Summer games, reaching the 800 semifinals and not competing at 1500. Jim finished 1956 ranked #3 in the world in the mile.
Bailey played professional rugby in Australia after his track career ended, then moved to Washington working as a salesman for sportswear as well as real estate.
Jim Bailey was inducted into the University of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.