Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x) – Final

In the centre lanes were Kirsten McCann of South Africa and Denise Walsh of Ireland. McCann raced in the Olympic lightweight double last year and has switched to the single this season while Walsh raced to silver at this year’s European Championships. McCann and Walsh recorded the two fastest times coming into this final. Just two boat lengths separated the entire field with 500m raced. McCann had a bit more speed and then under-23 champion, Marieke Keijser of the Netherlands did a push to get a tiny lead. But between four boats there was very little in it – the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa and Sweden were all up there. Keijser looked relaxed as she took a small lead with Patricia Merz of Switzerland slotting into second just ahead of McCann.

Keijser and McCann were both at 35 coming into the final sprint and looked to be in gold and silver spots. But Switzerland was coming along with Mary Jones of the United States. To the crowd roar Jones had gotten into third. Merz had now reply. McCann had won. Keijser took silver and what a finish for Jones. The American had won the first medal for the United States at these World Rowing Championships.

Results: RSA, NED, USA, SUI, SWE, IRL

Kirsten Mccann, South Africa, gold
“I had an ideal race plan for today. I knew in the last 250m it would be really, really tight. So I am happy to have been able to sprint effectively. It’s really cool!”

Marieke Keijser, Netherlands, silver
“In the semis I really saved my energy for today. Throughout the race, I knew what I could do and every 20 strokes I told myself I was better than everybody else, so I just had to make that happen.”

Mary Jones, United States of America, bronze
“This was one of the best races of this year. The field is very, very competitive. I stayed in contact with the rest of the field for most of the race. If in the last 250m I would not be in front, I would just go crazy and make a move. That’s what I did.”

B-final

Olympian Kenia Lechuga Alanis of Mexico took off the quickest. Lechuga was the fastest qualifier for this B-final following the semifinals. Going through the middle of the race the field remained tightly packed with Lechuga maintaining a very small lead over Poland’s Martyna Mikolajczak. Lechuga remained powerful and no one could outsprint her.

Results: MEX, ITA, POL, GER, HKG