Ashley N. Kelly arrived in Lima today, August 1, 2019 and will face the starter’s gun on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 in her specialty, the 400m. Photo: Dean H. Greenaway aka ‘The Sportsman’

According to one-miler Ashley N. Kelly, the Pan Am Games is just the icing on the cake and she is looking forward to representing the Virgin Islands at the highest level. Photo: Provided/File

Then in the Adam Sanford NYC invitational on July 13, 2019 she ran a 400m season’s best of 53.55 seconds to finish third. The news got even better as shortly after, she was notified that she had been invited to Lima, Peru, to compete in the 18^th Pan Am Games.

Kelly, who arrived in Lima today, will face the starter’s gun on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 in her specialty.

“To run 53.55, was definitely the breakthrough for my season,” Kelly said. “But, running 53 for me and having that as a breakthrough, then you definitely know the trials I’ve been going through this season. It was definitely a light at the beginning of the tunnel—I say beginning, because I know I have a long way to go, to get to my normal form running 51s and being consistent.”

Minor tweaks

Kelly said the minor tweaks she made in practice will show her true form in moving forward.

“Having that happen then a few days later, hearing that I’m doing to the Pan Am Games, was definitely like God showing his true self and showing that everything I manifested is still working in my favor, so I have to continue to keep the faith, keep grinding and keep believing in what I’m ordained to do,” Kelly, who’s making her second Pan Am Games explained. “So I’m excited about going to Pan Ams. I’ve had some season’s bests when I was in Europe. I’m continuing to stay focused, keep grinding, keep working on the things on the things my body responds to and expecting a really good showing at Pan Ams.”

The VI’s 400m record holder said it’s not what has happened in the early part of the season, she just needs that one great performance that can turn around her entire season, something she’s looking forward to.

“If it happens at Pan Ams, then I’d be grateful,” she said. “But I know that I have a long season to go, Pan Ams is just the icing on the cake and I’m looking forward to representing the BVI once again.”