Ivet Lalova, last year’s young sprint sensation will lead the Bulgarian squad for the European Indoor Championships in Madrid, Spain (4-6 March).
Lalova, 20, who finished 4th in the 100m and 5th in the Olympic 200m finals last summer in Athens is the star attraction of the seven member Bulgarian delegation of athletes.
Men
DESISLAV GUNEV (60m). Born 21.01.1986 in Gabrovo. Coached by Valya Demireva (fourth in 4x100 m relay in Roma’87 and fifth atOly’88 at relay 4x100m with pb at 100 m 11.34). Pbs outdoors 100 m 10.50 (2004) & 200 m 21.50 (2004) and indoors – 60 m 6.75 (2005) & 21.82 (2003). Eliminated at sf in WYC in Sherbrook’03, (200 m); EC in Tampere’03 (100 m) and WJC in Grosseto’04 (100 m). Second at World Youth Olympic Festival 2003 in Paris at 100 m.
ILIYAN EFREMOV (POLE VAULT). Born 02.08.1970 in Sofia. “KLASA”. Coach Miladin Parvanov (2.15 HJ). PB 5.70 (1998) & 5.70i (1998). Made 5.75 at Ostrava’s square on 12 June 2003. Balkan champion four times. Single. Other pb: HJ 190; 110 m h 14.62. Pbs: indoors 5.73 (2004) & 5.70 outdoors (1998; 2000 & 2002) Best result in 2005 5.60 indoors. Bulgarian Champion outdoors 1994, 95, 98, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and also indoors 1995, 96, 97, 99, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005. Balkan champion outdoors 1996, 97, 98, 2000, 02, 03 and also indoors 1999, 2000 & 2001.
SPAS BUKHALOV (POLE VAULT). Born 14.11.1980 in Plovdiv. “Trakia 96 Plovdiv. Coach Angel Lafchiev. Pb 5.70 (2003 & 2004) and 5.70 ind (2005). DNQ Oly 2004 (27th). Balkan champion outdoors 2001 & indoors 2003. Single.
MOMCHIL KARAILIEV (TRIPLE JUMP). Born 21.05.1982 in Sliven. “ASC Sliven”. Coach Atanas Ivanov (219 HJ). Fourth at EC U23 at TJ. 13th Q WCi 2004. Third at CE group A 2004. 22th Q Oly 2004.Pb 17.16 (2004)& LJ 749 (2003). Best result indoors 2005 16.69. Single.
Women
VENELINA VENEVA (HIGH JUMP). Born 13.06.1974 in Ruse. “Elit Vratsa”. Coach Georgi Dimitrov. Has made 1.93 at 15y 8m 11d in Dobrich on 24.02.1990. Second ECj ’91 at HJ. Fifth at EC ’98. Fourth ECi 2000. Ninth at Oly ’00. At WCi ’01 third. Fourth at WC Edmonton 2001. Pb 204 (2000) & 202i (2002). Other pbs: TJ 12.51; LJ 6.17i (1990). Her older sister Kremena was inaugural Bulgarian TJ recordholder with 12.11i (1990). Married with a daughter Neapola. Pb in 2005 indoors – 193. Bulgarian champion outdoors 1995 & 2004 and indoors 1994 & 1998 and also at TJ (1995).
TANYA STEFANOVA (ex KOLEVA) (POLE VAULT). Born 08.03.1972 in Plovdiv. “Trakia 96 Plovdiv”. Coached by Iva Prandzheva (6.90i LJ& 15.18 TJ). Was in bulgarian female football team in 1991-93 – central defender. The furst bularian over 4.00 m at PV. National recordholder outdoors 4.45 (2003) & indoors 4.50 (2005). 20th at WCi ’99. Fifth at WCi ’01. Sixth at WCi ’03. Devorced (ex-husband Desislav Kolev (2.18 HJ ’88). Best in 2005 – 4.50 – Balkan indoor record. Balkan champion outdoors 1997, 99, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and also indoors 2000, 2003 & 2005. Bulgarian champion outdoors 1995, 1997 & 2000 and also indoors 1998, 1999, 2000 & 2005. 21 national records outdoors and also 15 national records indoors.
IVET LALOVA (200m). Born 18 May 1984 in Sofiya. “Levski” Sofiya. Coach Konstantin Milanov. Her father Miroslav Lalov was national sprinter with 10.4 at sixties. Double European Junior Champion in Tampere at 100 & 200 m. Sensational break of national record at 100 m in Plovdiv with 10.77 (seventh in the world for all time). Best at 200 m 22.51(plus 22.36 windy) also in 2004. Single. Fourth at Olympiade 2004 at 100 m (11.00) and at 200 m (22.57). Best pbs indoors 60 m 7.21 (2004) & 24.27 (2002). Her 22.87 was made in 2004 in irregular conditions. Bulgarian champion at 100 m for 2003 & 2004 and at 200 m (2004).
Aleksander Vangelov for the IAAF
