Pusey's career peaked in the 1981 season. She achieved personal bests in the 100 m (11.29) and 400 m (51.38) that year in Ciudad Bolivar. The 1981 Central American and Caribbean Championships in Athletics saw her claim three gold medals and break three championship records. She won the 200 m in 23.35 seconds, the 400 m in 52.62 seconds, and the 4×100 m relay in 44.62 seconds. In addition, she was also part of the silver medal-winning 4×400 m relay team. She was easily the most successful athlete of the championships, as the only person to win more than two medals. In September she was chosen to compete for the Americas team at the 1981 IAAF World Cup. She became the first Jamaican woman to win a medal at the competition, taking the 400 m bronze in 51.48 seconds and also the 4×400 m relay bronze in an Americas team including Charmaine Crooks, Marita Payne and June Griffith. Alongside Bert Cameron (who was the men's 400 m bronze medallist) she became the first Jamaican athlete to win an individual IAAF World Cup medal (Don Quarrie had won a relay medal in 1977). At the end of this season she was selected at the Jamaican Sportswoman of the Year, dethroning Merlene Ottey, who had won twice consecutively (and who would have eleven further wins).