AIGUEBELETTE, France – Sophomore Martin Mackovic, representing his native Serbia, won a bronze medal in the coxed pair at the 2015 World Championships in Friday.

Mackovic at stroke, with his crew of Viktor Pivac and coxswain Luka Mladenovic, finished in a time of 6:59.53, closely behind the silver medalists from Germany (6:57.36). In the front, the gold went to Great Britain in 6:51.31.

Early on in the race, the trio trailed in the fifth position coming through the first 500-meter mark. They were able to gain some ground on the leading crews by the halfway points, but still remained in fifth. Nearing the end of the race with 500 meters to go, Mackovic, Pivac and Mladenovic pushed on and moved into bronze-medal position, and they were able to hold off the rest of the field behind them.

Last season, Mackovic stroked the Cal varsity 8+ to a victory against Washington at the Montlake Cut and a silver medal at 2015 IRA National Championships. Mackovic and Pivac also won a bronze medal in the coxless pair at the 2014 and 2015 Under-23 World Rowing Championship for Serbia.