EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The 2024 Paris Olympics officially got underway as the Opening Ceremony of the games was held on Friday.
For the first time ever in Olympic Summer Games’ history, the Opening Ceremony was not held in a stadium. The Opening Ceremony was held on the Seine River in the heart of Paris, France.
With the Olympics underway, here’s a look at athletes with local ties to keep an eye out for at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
UTEP
A total of seven athletes with ties to UTEP will be in Paris for the Olympics.
Headlining the group is Tobi Amusan. She ran at UTEP in the 2016 and 2017 seasons and was the 2017 NCAA national champion in the 100-meter hurdles. Amusan, the current world record holder in the women’s 100-meter hurdles. is representing Nigeria. Amusan was name Nigeria’s flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony.
There’s Niesha Burgher. She is competing in the women’s 200-meters and is representing Jamaica. This is Burgher’s first Olympic appearance. She is the only current UTEP Miner competing in the Paris Games.
Sean Bailey is also representing Jamaica and is set to compete in the men’s 400 meters. Bailey ran at UTEP from 2019-2021, a total of three seasons.
Jevaughn Powell is another member of the Jamaica national team. Powell is also running in the men’s 400 meters. Powell was at UTEP for two seasons (2020 & 2021) before he transferred to Florida.
The opening round of the men’s 400 meters is on Sunday, Aug. 4 at 11:05 a.m. MT.
Samantha Hall is the final athlete from Jamaica with ties to UTEP that is competing in the Paris Olympics. Hall is throwing in the women’s discus on Friday, Aug. 2 at 2:15 a.m. MT. Hall was at UTEP from 2014-2017.
Aiyanna Stiverne is at the Paris Olympics as a member of Canada. Stiverne is part of the Canada women’s 4×400 meter relay team. She ran at UTEP for the 2014 and 2015 seasons before transferring to the University of Miami. Stiverne will be in action on Friday, Aug. 9 at 2:40 a.m. MT.
Greta Kerekes is the final athlete with ties to UTEP competing at the Paris Games on this list. She is there representing Hungary. Kerekes will run in the women’s 100-meter hurdles on Wednesday, Aug. 7. Kerekes was at UTEP for her junior and senior year in 2014 and 2015.
NMSU
A pair of athletes with ties to New Mexico State will be competing at the Paris Olympics.
Alena Sharp is there with Team Canada and Ursula Wikström is there with Team Finland. Both Wikström and Sharp are playing women’s golf.
Alena Sharp is one of the best golfers in NMSU history. She was a First Team All-American in 2003. This is Sharp’s third Olympic appearance in her life. She also played in the 2016 Brazil Olympic Games and 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
This is Wikström’s second Olympic appearance. She played in the 2016 Brazil Olympics and tied for 44th.
The first round of the women’s individual stroke play is on August 7.
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