Ivet Lalova-Collio from Bulgaria and Amel Tuka from Bosnia & Herzegovina were crowned 2019 Balkan Athletes of the Year at an award ceremony in Arandjelovac, Serbia on Wednesday (27).
Lalova-Collio reached yet another global final over 200m in Doha some fifteen years after reaching the 100m and 200m finals at the 2004 Olympics. The Bulgarian also won a sprint double at the Balkan Championships and her winning time in the 200m - 22.42 - was her fastest in three years.
On the men’s side, Tuka returned to form by returning to the podium at the World Athletics Championships. Four years after winning bronze in Beijing, Tuka improved to silver in the 800m. His time in the final of 1:43.51 was the second fastest time in his career.
Ukraine’s world high jump silver medallist Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Bulgaria’s European Youth Olympics hammer champion Valentin Andreev were named Balkan U20 Athletes of the Year.
Amel Tuka’s 2019 highlights
1st - 800/Mixed Relay The Match Europe v USA
2nd - 800m World Athletics Championships
6th - 800m European Athletics Indoor Championships
Season's bests
400m - 46.15 NR
800m - 1:43.47
Ivet Lalova-Collio’s 2019 highlights
1st - 100/200m Balkan Championships
1st - 100/200m European Team Championships Second League
1st - 100/200m European Champion Clubs Cup
7th - 200m World Athletics Championships
Season's bests
100m - 11.08
200m - 22.45