PA Salute To Seniors: Wil Bailey - Penn Hills
What was your most memorable race/competition?
-My most memorable race was this outdoor season at the Baldwin Invitational. I ran a PR that day in the mile and I had the best race of my life. Alex Moran of Mount Lebanon took it out on the 2nd lap which was a 62! I was hanging on to my life the whole 3rd lap and the 4th I started to make my final move around the 300m point, but all of a sudden Brent Kennedy comes out of nowhere and kicks and I thought I lost but I sucked all the pain and me and Kennedy were head to head the whole 100m. The crowd was going crazy and I won and it was the worst pain I ever felt lol.
Where did you face your biggest competition?
-I faced my biggest competition at states this year in the 800m with people like Vincent Tonzo, Alec Kunzweiler, Ryun Holder and Andrew Stone just to name a few. Kind of disappointed that Drew and Ned didn’t run it this year because I’ve been dying to run against them.
Out of all of your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most?
-Out of all my high school accomplishments winning states stands out the most because I never would of thought that I would be state champ. I shocked a lot of people that day… even myself.
If you could do it all over again, what would you change about your athletic career in high school?
-If I could do all over again I wouldn’t change anything. I’d do it the same way. I had ups and downs but it made me who I am and all the hard work I did paid off.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
-The most difficult obstacle I had to overcome had to be balancing school and track. It took me a few years to get myself together.
What will you miss the most?
-What I will miss most is indoor track. I like the rides to far/new places. Everything about indoor is fun.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
-My advice for younger athletes is always run your race. Never run anyone else’s. I had to learn that the hard way haha.
How have your coaches influenced your performances and your life goals overall?
-The hard workouts coach Lee gives us make me want to die… but he pushed us to the limit and showed us that hard work and team work are the key to great things.
What are your college plans?
-I will be going to Keystone College next year running for coach Mike. I’m looking forward to some big PRs.
Shout-Outs?
-First shout out is definitely going to my dad. I wouldn’t be the person or athlete I am without him. We put 6 hard years in together and it all paid off.
-Shout out to coach Lee… best coach ever!. Thanks for putting up with me and my McDonalds after like every track meet haha.
-Shout out to Ryan Donnelly for going at it at every long run we ever did the past few years haha.
-Shout out to Angel Piccirillo. You’re probably going to be mad I put your real name out there but thanks for putting me in your journals and giving me your hoodie. We be having fun times haha.
-Shout out to Moran, Kennedy, and Tonzo. You guys were the best people I’ve ever faced. Hope to race you guys in the future.
-And last shout out to the whole Penn Hills team. Thee Robin Hall, Dylin, Brandon, Sam, Christina, Nevia, Savon, Tyree, Cam and Charles.
Want to be featured in our PA Salute To Seniors series? Drop me a line: don@penntrackxc.com and answer the questions above! Congratulations to the class of 2012 on all their hard work and success.