Reese Bailey '26 Recruiting Profile

I started running in 7th grade, but I think I’ve been a runner my whole life. I was the kid who kept running laps even after the teacher said we could go play. I’ve always been drawn to the part of the race that hurts. The part where it’s just you, your mind, and a choice: keep going or don’t. That fight—where it’s all on you and there are no excuses—is why I run. And because it’s that personal, that mental, that tough—I believe it matters even more to have a team and a coach who want it just as much.

My goal in college is simple: to become the best runner I possibly can. I’m chasing D1 performance with no limits. I don’t just want to run—I want to compete, to lead, and to help build something lasting. Whether I race D1 or D2, I’ll train like I belong at the top.

I’ve been on varsity all four years, serving as Spirit Captain and now Team Captain. I help set the tone—on race days and in training. My current PRs are 20:30 in the 5K and 5:52 in the mile—but I’ve trained for faster, and I’m ready to prove that this season. Even when I was too sick to score at districts, I ran alongside a teammate and pushed her to a PR—because that’s what teammates do. That’s the kind of runner I am: the one who shows up, fills the gap, and lifts the people around me.

I understand this sport at a deeper level. Especially for girls, there’s a point when performance can stall—but that doesn’t mean the work stops. I’ve stayed locked in through plateaus. I’ve studied what it takes to improve—nutrition, recovery, mindset, strategy—and I’m putting it into action.

I’m deeply coachable. I want to be corrected, challenged, and shaped into the athlete I haven’t met yet. My pride is not above improvement. I’ve done the work. I’m ready to break through. Now I’m looking for a coach and a team that can match my hunger—and I’ll raise the bar right alongside them.

Academically, I bring the same discipline. I balance a rigorous AP course load with training and leadership, and I care deeply about growing in every area of my life. I also run an outdoor motivation page called Reese Runs Wild, where I use my own experiences to inspire others to move with purpose, push past limits, and reconnect with the outdoors. It’s more than a page—it’s how I lead beyond the course and help others believe in what’s possible.

If you’re building a team that values drive, integrity, and leadership—I’m ready to give you everything I’ve got.