Barbadian Cher King is in some lofty company.
The vice-captain of the senior women’s hockey team was the lone female hockey player from the Caribbean named in the Pan American Elite Teams which were announced last week.
Trinidadian Kwandwane Browne was named in the men’s elite team for the third time.
The top players in the Pan American region are announced every two years and were selected from the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, and the 2011 Pan American Challenge in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It was a shock for the 24-year-old who teaches infants physical education at St Angela’s School.
“I didn’t think I had a chance although everyone has a chance,” King told NATIONSPORT in a telephone interview yesterday morning.
“When it was announced, I was kind of shocked to be in that calibre of players, that they would even look at someone from Barbados.
“The world No. 1 players are from Argentina, United States, Chile and those countries have opportunities to travel and play at the World Cups and Champions Trophy.”
What makes it even more special is that King only played at the Pan Am Games.
“The other coaches thought I am of that calibre, so it put in my mind that I am a quality player,” she said.
The women’s elite team is led by United States’ captain Lauren Crandall, along with teammates Rachel Dawson, Katie O’Donnell and goalkeeper Jaclyn Kintzer, who defeated Argentina for the first time in the history of the Pam Am Games.
Argentinian Luciana Aymar, seven-time winner of the International Hockey Federation’s World Player Of The Year, is joined by teammates Soledad Garcia and Rosario Luchetti.
Bronze medallists Chile also have three players, with two others from Canada and one each from Cuba, Mexico and Uruguay completing the Top 16.
Being named to the elite team is “something positive” that came out of the Pan Am Games for Barbados.
They lost 10-0 to Canada and 19-0 to Argentina. The lone win came against Trinidad (4-2) in the round play, but in the playoffs for seventh place, Trinidad won 3-1 and earned the right to play in the qualifiers.
