DUNBAR sprint star Maria Lyle has her sights set on defending her European titles when she runs in Berlin.

Lyle, who has cerebral palsy, will be among the favourites to take the gold medal for the T35 100m, the final of which is on this evening (Tuesday)

After that is over, the 18-year-old former Dunbar Grammar School pupil will then turn her attentions to the T35 200m final on Sunday.

Lyle won silver at the Commonwealth Games earlier this year and has won gold in both events at the last two IPC Athletics European Championships, in Swansea in 2014 and Grosseto two years ago.

In the 2016 event she also claimed gold as part of the T35-38 4x100m relay team.

The teenager said: “It’s not going to be an easy race as I haven’t been running to my best recently, but I have to make the best of where I am now and hopefully that will be enough to secure it.

“But I’m not going to just rely on rankings to make myself feel better.

“If I don’t run to the best of my ability it’s quite easy for someone to come along and beat me.

“You can’t rely on rankings for a sense of security.

“My goal is to try and retain my titles but at the end of the day all I can do is my best performance.

“It will be tough.”