Westerners Represented at 2024 Paris Olympics

Snyder, TX - Western Texas College athletics have three former Westerners invited and ready to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics.  

 Sean Bailey (2016-18)

Bailey was selected by the Jamaican team to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The former Western Texas College Westerner will be competing on Sunday, August 3rd. Bailey started his athletic career at Western Texas College in 2016. The sprinter qualified for the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in May of 2017. The freshman ended the finals third in the 400 meter with a time of 46.30 and eighth in the 4x400 meter. As a freshman, Bailey was crowned the National Champion for the indoor 400m. His time of 45.59 still stands as the NJCAA Indoor 400m record. 

In his sophomore year, Bailey made a massive improvement in his multiple final appearances. At the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in May of 2018, he finished first in both his events. Competing in the 400m, his time of 45.51 landed first and his 3:08.39 finish to the 4x400m crowned him first at the championship. 

After his two years at Western Texas College, he advanced to the four year level at the University of Texas, El Paso. At the NCAA Division I West Preliminary Round in 2021, he finished second in two separate 400m competitions. The two times were 45.65 and 45.31. As a senior, he earned gold at the C-USA Championship with his personal best time at the 400m with a 46.42 time. He also won gold at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic in the 400m with a time of 46.37. 

Niesha Burgher (2021-2022)

Burgher was selected to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics for the Jamaican team. The sprinter began her athletic collegiate journey at Western Texas College in 2021. In May of her freshman year, she finished fourth in the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships finals with a time of 46.01 in the 4x100m competition. 

After her time at Western Texas College, she would go on to University of Texas, El Paso. At the CUSA Championships, she took gold as she recorded a 11.34 time for the 100m competition. With her relay team, she was a part of a gold victory in the 4x400m competition with a 3:38.87 finish. 

Burgher earned seven All-Conference USA honors in 2023 at UTEP. She earned second team awards for 4x400m and 60m indoor, as well as 200m outdoor and 4x100 outdoor. The sprinter also received first team honors for 100m outdoor, 4x400 outdoor and 200m indoor.

Ian Kerr (2015-2016)

Former Westerner, Kerr will be participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics for the Bahamas team. Nearly ten years ago, Kerr started at Western Texas College in 2015. In his Freshman year, he finished first in the 200m with a time of 20.82 at the KCAC Championship finals. Kerr continued his success with a gold win at the Ross Black Track and Field Open in the 200m with a 20.82 finish. 

In his sophomore year, he finished first in the 200m with a time of 21.08 at the South Plains College Indoor Invite. Kerr landed first in both of us appearances at the ACU Wes Kittley Invitational in the 100m and 200m competitions. At the 2016 NJCAA Outdoor National Championships in 2016, he finished fifth in the 200m with a time of 20.71. 

Bailey, Burgher and Kerr will be competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics this August. Head Coach James Williams and the rest of his Track and Field and Cross Country staff is incredibly proud and excited to see the three former Westerners compete at the world's biggest stage. 

UP NEXT: The Westerners first meet of the 2024-2025 season will be on Friday, August 23rd.