- November 24, 2024
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When USRowing National Team member Mary Jones normally races, she locks on just her coach's voice.
On Friday, during the Lightweight Women's Single Sculls finals at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Sarasota, it was different.
As Jones fought five other competitors through the middle of the course, the athletes started to pull closer to the grandstand. Jones could hear it.
"U.S.A. ... U.S.A. ... U.S.A."
With eventual winner Kirsten McCann of South Africa in control, Jones knew her best hope was a medal.
As she pulled within the final 250 meters, she thought it was time to "do something crazy."
She spent every last ounce of energy in her body to squeeze out a third-place finish and a bronze medal with a time of 7:42.45 for the 2,000 meters. It was the only medal by an American on Friday. Marieke Keijser of the Netherlands won the silver in 7:41. McCann's winning time was 7:38.78.
Among the gold medal winners on Friday were France in the Lightweight Men's Quadruple Sculls (5:51.85); Italy in the Lightweight Women's Quadruple Sculls (6:33.97), Hungary in the Men's Coxed Pair (6:54.80); Ireland in the Lightweight Men's Pair (6:32.42), and Ireland's Paul Donovan in the Lightweight Men's Single Sculls (6:48.87).
The competition continues Saturday and Sunday at Nathan Benderson Park.