CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Rumyana Neykova won the women's singles by 59 seconds in the Head of the Charles Regatta on Saturday, setting herself up as the favorite for Sunday's Charles Schwab Championship Sprint Challenge.

Neykova, who set a world record this summer in singles in the FISA World Rowing Championships after taking the 2001 season off to have a baby, finished in 19 minutes, 10:02 seconds. She will be joined in the Schwab Sprint by runner-up Kristin Goodrich and third-place finisher Katrin Rutschow-Stomporowski.

Defending Sprint Challenge champion Duncan Free won the men's race in 18 minutes, 11:68 seconds, about 4 seconds ahead of Steve Tucker. Michael Perry finished third.

The Charles River Rowing Association set the lone course record of the day, winning the Club Fours in 16:33:88 to break the mark by almost 8 seconds.