Molly Morton Salazar
High School Honors
4 cross country letters: Ran on 4 PIL Championship teams, 1974-77 (the first years of girls’ PIL competition) and individually finished second and third twice each in the four years. Finished fourth in State as a freshman, third as a junior and second as a senior. Oregon Track Club International CC Champion, 1976; race winner over 77 runners at 9:40.5 in 1976; 10:25 two-mile in 1976 Oregon State CC Championships.
4 track & field letters: PIL 2-mile champion as a senior, second in State. Set PIL event record at the time. Named to National High School Honor Roll for track & field. All-time Top 10 in two-mile. Shared Most Inspirational Female Athlete Award with Melanie Batiste as a senior.
Post-High School Career
Competed for the University of Oregon in cross country (1977-81) and track and field (1978-79). Four-time member of Oregon’s West Region championship cross country teams. 1979 AIAW Region IX Cross Country champion (17:36.8), 1979 Northwest Women’s College Championships (3,000m champion, 9:25.1), 1979 Northwest Women’s College Championships (5,000m champion), 1979 AIAW Outdoor Track & Field Championships (sixth, 10,000m, 34:28.5). Oregon all-time Top 10 10,000m performance (34:28.5). 1979 5,000m (16:42.0). 1978 two-mile (11:02.9).
B.S. degree in Physical Education.
Commentary
My freshman year at Lincoln High School was a pretty historic year. It was the first year cross-country was offered to women after Title IX, so we were pioneers. Our fearless leader was Coach Dave Bailey. He had never coached women before, but he quickly became an amazing distance coach, mentor, and friend. He took a bunch of young girls, brand-new to high school and running, and turned us into a team. And somehow, we won the PIL championship all four years I was at Lincoln.
Washington Park was our home course. It was beautiful, wooded, and incredibly hilly. There were plenty of secluded trails on the course where we would sneak in a walk, catch our breath, or have a good cry!
In the 4 years of running cross country and track I don’t remember my times or where I placed in most races, but I do remember one race very clearly: the State Cross-Country Meet. At the start, I got my shoe peeled off. Instead of stopping to put it back on, I ran the entire race with one shoe. I was very dramatic about this. I cried for most of the race with Mr. Bailey encouraging me on. One shoe, all kinds of terrain, lots of tears—and somehow, I finished. I got 9th place, that I do remember!
I also remember bus ride shenanigans and team practices. Mr. Bailey and Mr. Carr would slowly drive past us in Mr. Carr’s little convertible as we ran up the steep hill to Washington Park. They would call out comments about how slowly we were running and remind us that darkness was coming!
Mr. Bailey taught us to work hard without taking ourselves too seriously. He taught us sportsmanship, humility, loyalty, perseverance, and how to show up for each other. We truly felt like we were part of something special. What began as a brand-new sport for girls at Lincoln became a lifelong gift for me. Running carried me into the U of O, opened another chapter of my life, and ultimately led me to meet my husband.
So, I may not remember my times or my places, but I remember the friendships, the laughter, the hills, the bus rides. I feel incredibly lucky to have been one of those PIL pioneers. And somehow, after all those hills, I still like running. That may be Mr. Bailey’s greatest accomplishment of all.
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