by Alfonz Juck
Ivet Lalova, photo by PhotoRun.net
Ukraine topped medals, Lalova sprint double
PRAVETS (BUL, Sep 2-3): Ukraine ended on top with medals at Balkan Championships in Bulgaria (9-4-5). They were followed by Greece (6-6-2) and Turkey (6-3-7), in total 17 out of 19 participating countries won medals. Home star Ivet Lalova-Collio after 100 m won also the 200 m in 22.45 (+1.2) over Eleni Artymata from Cyprus 22.97. Good quality 17.03 Doha standard for Georgi Tsonov from Bulgaria in triple jump, also Mirela Demireva won a gold for the organising country with 191 in high jump. Turkey´s Emre Barnes won the 100 m in 10.48 (but clocked 10.22 in heats), Serhiy Smelyk from Ukraine the 200 m in 20.50 (-0.6). Greek wins for Emmanouil Karalis 566 in pole vault (with good attempts at 581), Elisavet Pesiridou in the hurdles 13.11 (+1.8) and Stamatia Skarvelis 71.33 in hammer. In good shot put Romanian athletes dominated, winner Andrei Gag 20.71 and third Andrei Toader 20.30. In-between Serbian new name Armin Sinancevic 20.58. Also for Romania gold medals by Alin Firfirica 63.67 in discus, Alexandru Novac 77.90 in javelin. Milica Gardasevic won for Serbia long jump (642, +0.4), Dimitriana Surdu shot put for Moldova 17.53 just ahead of Ukrainian Olha Holodna 17.51 and European indoor champion Radoslava Mavrodieva 16.81. Alina Shukh from Ukraine scored 6042 points in heptathlon and Turkey men 3:05.85 in the 4×400 m. Special guests at the event were IAAF President Sebastian Coe and EA President Svein-Arne Hansen.
Ivet Lalova, photo by PhotoRun.net
