Former Adams State University Track & Field Sprinter Ian Kerr is set to compete in his first Olympic Games at the 2024 Paris Olympics, representing the Bahamas in athletics (track & field). Kerr is one of eight current or former RMAC student-athletes competing at the Olympics.
The Nassau, Bahamas, native graduated from Adams State in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications after earning his associates degree in general studies from Western Texas College. During his two year track & field career as a Grizzly, Kerr went to three NCAA National Championships and was a multi-event placer at three Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships.
Kerr stated, “There are so many positive things I can say about Adams, along with the people I’ve met there, and the experiences I’ve had. There is so much that I learned that will carry with me through life. The diverse opportunities that forced my professional development is something that I will carry with me into this Paris Olympiad. The track program at Adams starting with Coach Martin is where I learned to be the runner I am today. Through adversity and resilience I kept pushing to be the best Grizzly I could be everyday.”
After running a personal best time of 20.33 seconds in the 200 meters at the Meeting de la Martinique at the Stade L. Achille in Fort-de-France, Martinique, in May, Kerr was still shy of the 20.16-second time needed to automatically qualify for the Paris Olympics.
But automatically qualifying is not the only road to the Olympics; the World Athletics Rankings System also provided Ian with his opportunity to become a first-time Olympian. Cracking the Top 40 in the world came in June for Kerr. Competing at the 2024 New Life Invitational in Nassau, Bahamas, Kerr clocked a wind-aided time of 20.42 seconds, pushing him into the Top 40-33rd in the world, to be exact.
Kerr, in an interview with The Nassau Guardian, recalls the moment he received the call confirming his spot in the 200m at the Olympics, describing it as a validation of all the hard work he put in over the years. He will be a first-time Olympian in Paris. This achievement lifted a weight off his shoulders and reinforced his determination to succeed, he said.
“I am so proud of Ian Kerr and his dedication and perseverance, his path to having made the Olympic team is truly a remarkable story,” said Head Coach Damon Martin. “For all the young kids out there that want to have a role model, Ian would be a particularly good one because it did not come easy to him and it truly shows the hard work needed to succeed. He is truly one of the most hardworking and humble student-athletes that we have had come out of the program and I am so proud of him.”
Kerr will step onto the world’s biggest stage Monday, August 5 at 11:55 a.m. MT. You can watch the race on NBCOlympics.com or on Peacock.
“I am forever thankful to Adams State for giving me the opportunity to represent them in the past and now on the biggest stage in sports,” said Kerr.
