T&T sailor Kelly-Ann Arrindell finished 16th at the 2019 South American Laser Championships yesterday at the Yacht Club Peruano, Paracas, Peru, to qualify for the Pan American Games in July in the same country.
Sailing among 22 competitors in the laser radial class, Arrindell had a total of 137 points after her 10 races, finishing with a net total of 121.
Her best race was the ninth where she recorded a score of 10. Her worst was the first race which saw her finished with a score of 16 but Arrindell only got better after that.
There were 16 females in the field, and the College of Charleston student finished a credible 10th among the ladies. She competed among the likes of Argentina, Brazil, France and Mexico.
Speaking to Guardian Media Sports yesterday, Arrindell said, "This championship was extremely difficult because they had a lot of good sailors here, but my main goal was to qualify for the Pan Am Games, which I did."
Arrindell went on to say the winds provided a major challenge for her, as she struggles in such conditions because of her weight. "I'm hoping to gain some weight before the games so I'm able to compete with the bigger and stronger girls when I'm in wind," she said.
The T&T sailor had to actually qualify this time around after getting a wildcard into the last Pan Am Games in Toronto. She is now working towards Olympic qualification which will take place in Japan later this year.
The championships were won by Argentine Lucia Falasca with a score of 26 points. Brazil's Gabriella Kidd was second with 45 while France's Marie Barrue completed the top three with 54.
