Jones Nabel Wins Lightweight Single at First World Rowing Cup in Serbia

Mary Jones Nabel (Huntsville, Ala./University of Tennessee) took home the gold medal in the lightweight women's single sculls on Saturday at the first World Rowing Cup of the season in Belgrade, Serbia.

The lone U.S. athlete racing at this weekend's regatta on Sava Lake, Jones Nabel rowed to a commanding victory, winning the race by nearly seven seconds over The Netherlands' Martine Veldhuis. Chile's Isidora Niemeyer took the early lead ahead of Spain's Natalia Miguel Gomez in the first 500 meters, with Jones sitting just behind the leaders in third. But in the second quarter of the race, the American moved into the gold-medal position. Jones Nabel pulled away from the field in the third 500 meters and cruised to an easy victory, finishing with a time of 7:58.57. Veldhuis won silver in an 8:05.49, with Miguel Gomez claiming the bronze medal in an 8:06.58.

With the 2022 World Rowing Championships scheduled for September in the Czech Republic, this weekend gave Jones Nabel a chance to test her speed against an international field in preparations for the 2022 World Championships Trials scheduled for early July in West Windsor, N.J.

Currently rowing out of Cambridge Boat Club, Jones Nabel won a bronze medal in the event at the 2017 World Rowing Championships and followed that up with a silver medal in the lightweight women's double sculls at the 2018 World Rowing Championships.

World Rowing Cup I runs through Sunday. For an up-to-date schedule and complete results, visit the 2022 World Rowing Cup I event page.