Obikwelu retains European 100 metres title

Francis Obikwelu retained his European 100 metres title last night with victory in 9.99 seconds.

The Portuguese Olympic silver medallist recovered from the slowest start in the field to set the fastest time in Europe this year.

Russian Andrey Yepishin was second in 10.10 with Slovenian Matic Osovnikar third in 10.14.

"Now I have my own 100 metre European gold medal," said Obikwelu, who was awarded the 2002 title after Briton Dwain Chambers was stripped of the gold medal after admitting to doping in that year.

"At the finish line, I raised my hands, I was so excited.

"This title means a lot to me. I was number one in Europe all the year and now I also have the gold medal. After the silver in Munich, I wanted this gold in Gothenburg badly.

"In my head, it is still the silver medal that I won in Munich."

Chambers, who lost his title after admitting to having taken the designer steroid THG (tetrahyrogestrinone) in 2002, had a disappointing run and finished seventh in 10.24.

Frenchman Ronald Pognon, one of the few sprinters capable of challenging Obikwelu in the championships, was fourth in 10.16.

Chambers's compatriot Mark Lewis-Francis was fifth in 10.16, with Pole Dariusz Kuc in sixth a further 0.05 behind.

"It is very important for me to have finished under ten seconds, without the rain I could have run even faster," added Obikwelu, whose personal best is 9.86 seconds.

The Portuguese is bidding to become the first man to win the sprint double at the European Championships since 1978.

In the 200 metres at the 2002 championships Obikwelu was beaten into second place by Greek Costas Kenteris, who is now suspended for missing drugs tests.

In the 100 metres at the 2004 Olympics, Obikwelu was only beaten by American Justin Gatlin, who is facing a life ban after failing a drugs test for the second time.

Gevaert through

Earlier in the day, Belgium's Kim Gevaert started her quest for a sprint double at the European Championships by clocking the fastest time in the women's 100 metres heats.

Gevaert, who holds the best European time for the shorter sprint this season of 11.04, won her race in 11.19 to qualify easily for today's semi-finals.

The 28-year-old won silvers for both sprints at the previous European Championships in 2002 in Munich. Her toughest challenger in the shorter sprint is expected to be Russia's Yuliya Gushchina, who advanced by winning her heat in 11.29 seconds.

Other finals

Men's long jump: 1. Andrew Howe (Italy) 8.20 metres; 2. Greg Rutherford (Britain) 8.13; 3. Aleksey Lukashevich (Ukraine) 8.12.

Men's 20km walk: 1. Francisco Fernandez (Spain) 1:19.09; 2. Valeriy Borchin (Russia) 1:20.00; 3. Joao Vieira (Portugal) 1:20.09.

Men's 10,000m: 1. Jan Fitschen (Germany) 28:10.94; 2. Jose M. Martinez (Spain) 28:12.06; 3. Juan C. de la Ossa (Spain) 28:13.73.

Women's hammer: 1. Tatyana Lys-enko (Russia) 76.67 metres; 2. Gulfiya Khanafeyeva (Russia) 74.50; 3. Kamila Skolimowska (Poland) 72.58.