From PE to podium: Arlington Bowie’s Bailey Johnson races to national track stardom

It might be hard to believe, but Bailey Johnson wasn’t originally on the track team at Arlington Bowie High School. As a freshman, despite being one of the fastest girls in school - in the entire city - she had not included track on her schedule.

“I was planning on running, but I did not create my schedule,” the senior, who is now among the fastest runners in the entire nation, said.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, she studied remotely from home in the eighth grade and, of course, did not compete in track despite competing in the seventh grade. As a result, when she transitioned back to the campus as a freshman, since she did not request track specifically, she was assigned to a PE class.

Well, that is until Bowie Lady Volunteers track coach Doris Grooms heard about this very fast girl not putting her talents to use where they belonged.

“She was in PE outrunning the boys,” Grooms recalled. “Coach (Willie) Carter reached out to me and said, ‘This girl can run. She needs to be in track.’”

Still, a shy Johnson was reluctant to shake things up and change her schedule.

“I went to coach Carter and said, ‘I need you to physically walk her to my classroom,’” Grooms said. “I just looked at her body, and I could tell she could run.”

And she’s been running ever since - faster than almost anyone who dares to step on a track against her. As of April 5, she ranked:

• Fifth in the United States in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.20 seconds at the Texas A&M Bluebonnet meet on March 7.
• Fifth in the state in the 200.
• Fourth in Class 6A in the 200.
• 16th in the US in the 100 with a time of 11.48 seconds at the district meet
• 13th in the state in the 100.

This is on the heels of finishing second in the state in the 200 as a junior, posting a career-best time of 23.06 seconds. She also qualified for state in the 100.

It didn’t take long for Johnson to live up to Grooms’ expectations. She joined now graduated Janet Nkwoparah, Camryn Vasher and Tyler Brown on the state runner-up and nationally ranked 4x200 relay that set a school record of 1:35.89. The quartet also qualified for state in the 4x100.

“I think once she bought into what we were trying to do, she looked at those ladies and saw first-hand where she was trying to go and what she needed to do to be successful,” Grooms said.

Ironically, Johnson wanted to take a season off as a sophomore, however.

“I love the meets, but practice, I didn’t like that,” Johnson said with a smile. “But I realize the importance of it now and how it has helped me get here.”

Grooms knew the danger of taking time off, however, and how it might impact Johnson’s future of running not just for Bowie but also at the college level.

“The first conversation I had with her mom, I pointed to Bailey’s legs and said, ‘These are going to pay for her education.’ Bailey bought in as well,” Grooms said.

Johnson did return to compete as a sophomore, advancing to state on a 4x400 relay and individually in the 100.

Now, Johnson has a scholarship to run for TCU. She’s excited to still be close to family and friends, she said.

“It’ll be really nice to go home when I want without buying a plane ticket,” she said with a chuckle.

But there’s still some unfinished business as a Lady Volunteer, she said. Finishing second last season has inspired her for this season, so much that she’s working through a bone bruise as she approaches the most important part of her season.

“It got me dedicated to gold this season,” she said, adding with a grin, “And I definitely want to PR this year, even if I get last.”

To which Grooms quickly injected, “Girl, stop putting that on yourself!”

Then, Grooms continued, “Just making it to state is a big milestone, even once. A lot of people don’t realize this, and she’s done it three times, hopefully on her way to four.”

Whatever her outcome this season, both Grooms and Johnson realize the end of her illustrious high school career is near. Grooms said she is ready for Carter to start watching the PE classes closely again.

“I promised him, like, 10 steak dinners. I need to pay him because with Bailey graduating, I need him to find someone new,” Grooms said with a smile.

As for her own legacy, Johnson will not soon be forgotten - and not just for her accomplishments on the track. Grooms will make sure of that.

“It’s a funny story to tell - and she loves to tell everyone,” Johnson said.

“It’s my favorite story to tell,” Grooms said, adding, “That and her accomplishments, of course. It’s a great story of what can be out there waiting to be found.”