New Zealand engineering student Jo Aleh leads the world Laser Radial rankings for the first time, deposing Mexican Tania Elias Calles.
Calles drops from No 1 to No 2 while American Anna Tunnicliffe also loses one spot to No 3 in the latest International Sailing Federation rankings released
today.
Aleh has been a major part of a resurgent New Zealand sailing team looking to improve on Athens 2004, the first Olympic Games at which New Zealand had not won a sailing medal since 1980.
At 21, Aleh lacks the experience of many of her rivals, but has already matured into one of the most consistent performers in the Laser Radial fleet.
After a successful 2007 in Europe with three top three results in major regattas, and an eighth place at the world championships, Aleh has been selected for the New Zealand Olympics team.
With this year's Laser Radial world championships on her home waters in Auckland from March 13-20, she'll be looking to win her first world championship medal.
In the men's RSX windsurfing rankings, New Zealand's Tom Ashley has moved up to No 4 after winning last month's world championships in Auckland.
Barbara Kendall moves up to No 5 from 12 after taking a silver medal in the women's RSX championships last month.
In the men's 470, Carl Evans and Peter Burling have shot up 30 places to be the top ranked Kiwi team at No 17.
The 17-year-olds missed out in the medal race but their top 10 finish at the recent world championships in Sydney did enough to qualify a New Zealand boat for the Olympics.
- NZPA
