Vesper Boat Club's Mary Jones is no stranger to selection events on Mercer Lake.
The Huntsville, Ala.-native estimates that she's raced the 2,000-meter course "probably close to 20 times" in her elite rowing career. She won trials for the 2015 Pan American Games and went on to win gold in the lightweight single sculls in Toronto last summer. She also has represented the U.S. in the lightweight quadruple sculls at the 2014 World Rowing Championships.
Today, she won her time trial in the lightweight single by more than 19 seconds, advancing to the next round of competition at the 2016 U.S. Senior, Under 23 and Junior World Championships Trials, o ne of the largest trials events in USRowing history.
Winning crews this week in junior, under 23 and senior-level events earn the opportunity to represent the United States at the 2016 World Rowing Senior, Under 23 and Junior Championships, scheduled for August 21-28 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Jones is among 140 entries from 40 clubs competing in 27 boat classes here. Her focus on this regatta began shortly after her bid for Rio ended at U.S. Olympic Trials in Sarasota, Fla. It was an experience that she said changed her, as a person.
"Since then, I realized that my next goal was going for the light single. There are a lot of women that are here, also working really hard for that spot," said Jones. "I think that when you go through something really hard with other women that you respect, you really do a lot of growing and learning about yourself. You come away from it a different, better person."
What made today's time trial win even more special for Jones was the shoreline support from Vesper teammates Kate Bertko and Devery Karz, U.S. lightweight women's double scullers that will race at the 2016 Olympic Games next month.
"Seeing them brought back memories of training together. I love training in a group. All of the women push each other. We've stayed in touch as they've been preparing (for Rio). They are such good teammates, being here to see me race.
"We all really put everything into the team process and the results that will come out of it in Rio and hopefully at worlds. It's a full team push, and it's exciting to be part of something so big and so collaborative. This is a really great experience."