Q&A with a Razorback: Alain Bailey

By Ramsay FulbrightArkansas Media RelationsAlain Bailey came to the University of Arkansas from Kingston, Jamaica, and is a jumper on the track and field team. Accolades have been rolling in for Bailey since joining the Razorbacks. He is a three-time All-American, seven time All-SEC honoree, four-time SEC champion and was chosen to represent Jamaica in the long jump in the 2009 IAAF Track and Field World Championships in Berlin.MR: You had the opportunity to go to Berlin for the IAAF World Championships, what was that like?AB: Berlin was a great experience, it’s a historical place for track and field and the Jamaican team did well. I competed for Jamaica in the long jump, and I got to see Usain Bolt break both the [world] records. It was a good experience to see all that happen, I would love to go back to the world championships. Next year is kind of a down year in track and field in terms of big championships, but it was fun. I am looking forward to 2011 World Championships.MR: You were teammates with Usain Bolt, did you have a chance to spend time with him off the track?AB: Yes, we were all in the same hotel, and we hung out. We ate food and went to parties and all of that stuff, we were friends just like any other guy on the team. MR: What is the most played song on your iPod?AB: I have a lot of songs from Jamaica, I mostly listen to Bob Marley, he is my favorite. MR: What do you like to listen to to get pumped up before a meet?AB: Reggae music, it keeps me in a calm state so that I can relax and get the job done.MR: If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go and why?AB: I would go to Ethiopia, that is where I want to go. It is a very historical place and I would love to go there. Anywhere else is fine, but my first goal is to go to Ethiopia.MR: Jamaica and Arkansas are quite a ways from each other, what drew you to Arkansas?AB: Its rich history in track and field, I was one of the best recruits coming out of high school, in the region, not just in Jamaica. Coach (Dick) Booth recruited me and he did a good job, Arkansas is a great school and I love it. MR: If you had to choose a sport other than track what would it be?AB: Soccer, I love soccer. I have been playing soccer since before I started track. I started playing soccer since I was about six and I watch a lot of soccer. I watch soccer on TV all day on Sundays, it’s a big thing in Jamaica.MR: If you were a track coach what would you say to motivate your team?AB: Just have fun. That is a line that all coaches use, is have fun. If you have that state of mind you are definitely more relaxed and don’t put as much pressure on yourself.MR: Up to this point what would you say has been the most important day of your life?AB: The day when I got accepted to Arkansas, that was a very important day. University is very important and I would like to get a degree out of it and that’s where my life starts.MR: Speaking of degrees what are you getting your degree in and how did you choose it?AB: I am in transportation logistics. I chose it because I did a lot of reading about it. My dad and I sat down and realized that it is in high demand and there is money in it right out of college.MR: What do you plan to do once you graduate?AB: Hopefully I have a couple more years in track and field at the professional level. If not, I am working on my masters right now, I am studying for the GMAT right now and we’ll see if that works out, so I have plans. So track and field for right now and if not I will get my masters. MR: When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?AB: I guess I wanted to be a pilot. Everyone wanted to be a pilot for some reason they liked seeing the planes. Now that I have grown up I have seen a lot of things and that’s not really what I wanted to do. When you are young you see a lot of things and you want to be everything you see and when you get older you have to concentrate on one thing and that’s what I’m doing now.MR: Other than track what do you like to do in your spare time?AB: I like to hang out with my friends, play video games, listen to music and just chill.