TACOMA, Wash. — Bailey Forsyth is a two-time national collegiate track champion, having won both the 100- and 200-meter races at this year’s NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships in North Carolina. In so doing, she became the first track athlete in Pacific Lutheran University (WA) history to capture two events in one national meet.

Despite genuinely impressive credentials, there aren’t many among us less impressed with themselves.

The four-year letterwoman from South Whidbey High School and the daughter of proud PLU alums Jim and Teresa recalls many moments of her impressive track career thus far.

Do you remember when you first knew you liked running fast?

“I remember first running as a middle schooler, and I did the hurdles, and I just flew through them, simply because I was fast in between them, and when I crossed the finish line, first all I could think was just ‘hey, that was fun.’”

Trace your career as a track athlete for us.

“I started running track as soon as I was able to, which was middle school for me, and did it because I was told that I was fast, and I knew I was quick, and everybody did track, so it was totally a social thing. I ended up being pretty good at it, so I stayed on board, because it’s fun to do things that you’re good at, and you like doing. I actually started as a hurdler and hurdled my first three-and-a-half years of track. I gave those up in the middle of my sophomore year of high school, not because I wasn’t good at them, but I just didn’t like them that much, and liked the feeling of just opening up pure speed with nothing in my way more than jumping over things. I wanted to see just how fast I could go. I went to state every year of high school, either as an individual or as part of a relay team, or both, and placed in the top eight three of those four years. Senior year I was looking at colleges and ended up choosing PLU because I could run there while also having the freedom to really pursue my studies and travel abroad, while still being an athlete. A smaller, DIII institution allowed me to do that, and our head coach, Adam Frye, was starting to build what was turning out to be a really special program, and I wanted in. I had kind of a low start in college. Freshman year was good, I placed in conference for a relay and an individual event, but the next two years were pretty tough. I dealt with a persistent hamstring injury all of my sophomore year and pulled it together for a fair showing at conference. Then Junior year, COVID happened and all of a sudden, my (and everyone else’s) season was gone. It was discouraging, I felt like I had some really great potential that year, and last season I just came back hungry, and ready to put everything I had into success on the track. I was ready to explode, and that’s what happened.”

What do you personally enjoy most about running?

“My favorite thing about track is that it’s an individual sport, and it all comes down to bettering yourself, being the best version of yourself. Obviously having competitors helps in that improvement, because sometimes you need a little pressure from the outside, but at the end of the day it just comes down to beating the clock, competing against yourself.”

I know you really value your relationships with your teammates and coaches in the Pacific Lutheran University track family. Talk about this bond.

“I could be as talented and as driven as I like, but I wouldn’t have made it half as far as I did without the support system I have in my teammates and coaches. We’re a tight knit group, and I know I can lean on any one of them if I need it, and I have. There’s a deep level of trust there, too. I trust my coaches to appropriately prepare me for my races and give me the tools to become the best version of myself, and in turn they trust me to take that coaching, put in the appropriate work to succeed and reap the benefits. That team is truly my family at PLU, and they make every practice enjoyable. I could have the worst day, and it only takes one practice with my buddies to turn it all around. I love my team.”

Equal footing for men’s and women’s athletic programs is a point of discussion at all levels of competition. What is your experience as a female athlete in this regard? What are you happy with and what may be improved in your view? 

“My experience as a track and field athlete for PLU has largely been satisfactory, and a good experience. Our team is both men’s and women’s, so we have the same facilities, same coaching, same opportunities. I can’t speak for those teams that are separated by gender, like basketball or soccer, but my personal experience has been a mostly positive one. I think what needs to be improved is the level of respect for female athletes, both from our male counterparts within the sport, and from fans of the sport – of all women’s sports, not just track. Like, there’s still a distinction in the level of hype surrounding a men’s sprint final and a women’s sprint final. Yeah, the men are faster, but only by what, maybe a second? The excitement of a final is the competition – the women’s finals are just as intense, just as close to call, and showcase incredible talent and speed. We aren’t competing against the men, so why do people keep acting like it’s a justified comparison?”

Share with us your future plans, Bailey. You intend to return to PLU and run track again, correct? And then what are your goals after graduation?

“I am returning to PLU in the spring for a fifth year of track. It was a bit of a last-minute decision, but in the end I couldn’t say no. I had an extra year of eligibility from the COVID year, and I’m coming off of the best season of my life, so why not? Even if I can’t match the season I had last year, I think I can still be successful, and have a good time with some of my favorite people around. As far as after graduation goes, I’m hoping to go to grad school in the next year or two to get my master’s in international relations, and move abroad for a change of scenery. My time in Tacoma has been amazing, and I wouldn’t trade a single second of it for the world, but I’m feeling ready to get on with the next chapter of my life. But not until I hit that track one last time.”

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