SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Having created history by becoming the first Jamaican woman to win a medal in the hammer throw event at the Central America and Caribbean (CAC) Games, Erica Belvit has now set her sights on securing a spot on the country’s team to this year’s IAAF World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Belvit produced an outstanding performance on Monday night to capture the silver medal in the hammer throw with a mark of 70.04m.

The event was won by Venezuela’s Rosa Rodriquez, who threw 71.62m, while the bronze medal went to Mayra Gavira of Colombia, who had a best throw of 68.61.

The 24-year-old Belvit, who is based in the United States, was overjoyed with her performance in the final.

“It is insane, it is crazy… I am glad that I was able to do it,” Belvit told the Jamaica Observer. “This will definitely shoot my confidence up and it will let me know that I can actually compete on a world stage like this and win a medal,” she said.

“This is my first meet and first medal and so I am happy that I threw 70 metres because I really wanted to do that at this championships,” Belvit added.

She said she had been having a very tough season for personal reasons, but this silver medal has shown her that once you stay committed, then anything is possible.

“It shows that I belong here and I am here to do it and I don’t need to be afraid. If I am one of the people that paved the way for future Jamaican hammer throwers, then I am here for it,” Belvit noted.

She said at a point work had impacted her training, but she nevertheless perservered.

“I have been having a rough time with training due to work commitment, but I am now fully back in training and working hard to achieve my goals,” she stated.

Belvit, who has a best throw of 70.09m, is currently ranked 43rd in the world, and according to the IAAF rules, an athlete must be ranked in the top 36 in the world in their event in order to compete at the World Championships. Her national teammate Nayoka Clunis is currently occupying the 36 spot with her mark of 71.13m.

Belvit said she will make her way to the Jamaican National Championships this weekend and will be hoping for another massive throw, which will help to move her up in the world rankings this year.

“I am looking forward to it [National Championships] because I am planning to leave here (El Salvador) as soon as possible to go there, and hopefully, I can do something special in Jamaica,” said Belvit.

“I am fighting for that 36th spot and hopefully this meet will push me forward and then at the National Trials will even push me more.

“I am trying to get the B standard because I know that Nayoka [Clunis] has already gotten it, and so I am trying to get it also so that we can have two Jamaican throwers there at the World Championships,” Belvit ended.