HELSINKI (AP) — Ivet Lalova of Bulgaria won the 100 meters at the European Championships, the first gold in her quest for a sprint double.
Lalova rallied to nip Olesya Povh of Ukraine and Lina Grincikaite of Lithuania at the line on Thursday. Because of the cold and dampness at Helsinki’s Olympic Stadium, Lalova’s time was a disappointing 11.28 seconds, well off the European record of 10.73.
Lalova is favored to win the 200, which has the first heats on Friday.
In the men’s 100 later Thursday, France’s Christophe Lemaitre is favored to win his second straight sprint title.
