at the 1988 aaas championships, incorporating the olympic trials, bailey earned selection at both 800 metres and 1500 metres. with the first two in each event guaranteed a place on the team, she secured her place by finishing second to kirsty wade in the 800 metres in 2:02.49, before going on to finish second to christina cahill (boxer) in the 1500 metres in 4:09.20. at the olympic games in seoul, south korea she reached the 800 m semi-finals, running 1:59.94, before reaching the final of the 1500 metres, running a lifetime best of 4:02.32 for seventh, ahead of mary slaney and doina melinte, who were eighth and ninth respectively. the seoul olympics, would prove to be the highlight of bailey's career. she did earn selection for the 1990 commonwealth games in auckland, where she finished eighth in the 1500 metres final in 4:13.31.