Nov. 8, 2012

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the University of South Carolina Women’s NCAA Outdoor Track and Field title that they secured in Baton Rouge, La., on June 1, 2002. The NCAA Championship was the school’s first-ever team title in any sport for the Gamecocks. Thirteen members of the squad combined to earn 128 All-American honors over the course of their collegiate careers.

In the weeks leading up to the All-Sports Reunion, GamecocksOnline.com will feature members of the 2002 NCAA Championship team.

Aleen Bailey
Class of 2006, Sociology

Birthplace: St. Mary, Jamaica
Current Home: Orlando, Fla.

Currently… still training and competing. Working on my foundation in Jamaica.

Athletic Accomplishments:
As a Gamecock:

• 9-time All-American
• 3-time NCAA Champion
  • 2002 Outdoor – 4x100m (Whipple, Washington, M. Barber, Bailey) (43.12, Fourth fastest team in Gamecock history)
  • 2003 Outdoor – 100m (11.18)
  • 2003 Outdoor – 200m (22.65)

After South Carolina (Competing for Jamaica)

• 1999 World Championships – 4x100m bronze medalist
• 2003 World Championships – 200m silver medalist
• 2005 World Championships – 4x100m silver medalist
• 2004 Summer Olympics (Athens)
  • 4x100m Olympic Gold Medalist
  • Placed 5th in the 100m
  • Placed 4th in the 200m
• 2007 Pan American Games – 4x100m gold medalist
• 2008 Summer Olympics (Beijing)
• 2009 World Championships – 4x100m gold medalist
• Inducted into University of South Carolina Hall of Fame (2010)

NCAA Memories
Event(s) competed in at the NCAA’s:

• NCAA Champion – 4x100m (Whipple, Washington, M. Barber, Bailey) (43.12, Fourth fastest team in Gamecock history)
• 200m (2nd)
• 100m (FS)

Favorite NCAA Memory: When I got disqualified from the 100m (which was one of the first events at the championships), I was crying like a baby. Demetria (Washington) and all of the girls came a hugged me and gave me a pep talk. They helped me to get out there to do my best in the 200m and to get the points to win the Championship.

South Carolina Memories
Favorite South Carolina Memory: The quotes that Coach Frye gave us when we had team meetings. He would pass them out to all of us. They really resonated with us.

Why did you choose South Carolina? My mom fell in love with Coach Frye. She is an evangelist and wanted me to be in a structured environment where I would go to church. Coach Fry was a member of a church there and said that I would go to church.

What are you most looking forward to about coming back to Columbia? Seeing everybody and being together. I heard we have a few events – the Homecoming Parade, Coach Frye’s Diabetes Walk on Saturday morning and of course the football game.

Aleen adds…I would like to thank South Carolina for accepting me into their family and for giving me the opportunity to complete my dream of being the first person in my family to go to college.

Then | Now
Biggest Influence: Mother and Timothy Spencer | My mom
Favorite Movie: Dance Hall Queen | Belly
Person you Admire Most: Mother | My mom and my mentor Timothy Spencer
Greatest Athletic Thrill: When I won a bronze medal at the 1999 World Championship Games | 2004 winning the 4×100 at the Olympics

The members of the 2002 NCAA Championship team will be honored in Columbia, S.C., on Nov. 9 and 10 as a part of the All-Sports Reunion.