Margaret Johnson Bailes (born January 23, 1951) remains one of Oregon’s greatest prep sprinters having won a Gold Medal in the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics while still in high school.
Bailes grew up in Eugene and was discovered at age nine after winning an All-Comers meet at Hayward Field while wearing a dress and dress shoes. She originally planned to attend a movie with friends. Local coach Wendy Jerome, wife of Oregon Duck legend Harry Jerome, saw her run and began directing her talent. Because of her speed, she regularly ran against boys and then college men.
Bailes attended Churchill High School and in 1967 took part in the first OSAA girls state championship meet in Springfield. She re-set the state records for 100 and 220 yards and ran a leg on a record-setting 440 relay team.
In 1968 Margaret helped the Lancers finish second to Sheldon at state. She won the 100- and 220-yard finals and ran a leg on the winning 440-yard relay team. The 220 and relay marks set two more state records. Her Oregon high school records for 100 yards (11.29) and 220 (22.95) stood for decades and, as of 2025, are still #2 on the all-time lists.
That year, she also ran 11.1 in the 100 meters, equaling the world record and winning the AAU national championship. Bailes 22.95 in the 220 was an American record. She won the 200 and finished second in the 100 at the U.S. Olympic Trials, but contracted pneumonia prior to the Olympics and finished only fifth in the 100 and seventh in the 200. She won gold by running the second leg for the 4×100 relay team and established a world record at 42.8 seconds.
Following the Games, she learned she was pregnant and became a parent along with husband Eddie Bailes, ending her competitive racing career. Margaret returned to Eugene and coached Churchill track athletes for a time. In 2009, the renovated track she practiced on near Churchill High School was named after her.