ATHLETICS: MARK RETURNS AS FANS' HERO

MARK RICHARDSON only needed to step forward to his starting blocks to get the biggest cheer of the day from the capacity Crystal Palace crowd.

But the 400 metres runner, in his first race for nearly a year after being dragged into the nandrolone drugs nightmare, got even more applause as he crossed the finishing line third in a truly world- class field.

"The response I got from the public was overwhelming," Richardson, his voice breaking with emotion, said afterwards.

"The reception was really fantastic from all the other quarter- milers too. I'd like to send a big thank you to everyone who has stood by me in the darkest of times."

Richardson finished in 45.11 seconds, well inside the Olympic qualifying time. Only Greg Haughton, of Jamaica, and Alejandro Cardenas, last year's world bronze medallist, managed to beat the Briton.

Jamie Baulch, Richardson's relay team-mate and potential rival for a place in the British team at next weekend's Olympic trials, finished last of eight in 45.86.

"I didn't expect to run that quick," Richardson said. "I was very controlled.

"I'm in unknown territory. I don't really know how fit I am. In fact, I've missed so much training I was surprised I could even fit into my running suit."

Richardson became the first of seven British runners who have tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone in the last two years allowed back on to the race track.

For others, like Dougie Walker, the European 200m champion, any reprieve has come too late to revive their Olympic dreams.

For Richardson, the 28- year-old from Windsor, yesterday's race was a big step on the road back to Sydney.

"If they had banned me I would have turned my back on the sport," Richardson said. "But I'm still in no-man's land, not knowing whether my case will be referred for arbitration and whether I will be allowed to run at the Olympics."

One sprinter in action yesterday who doesn't even want to think about Sydney is Mark Lewis-Francis.

The Birmingham teenage sensation, only given a slot in the 100m B race, scorched to a 10.09 victory, the fastest time ever run by a 17- year-old.

"I've got a lot of Olympics ahead of me," he said. "This year will be my first and last chance at the World Junior Championships.

"I want to go to Chile in October to win the World Juniors and break the World Junior record."

That target time is the 10.05 set by Dwain Chambers.

None of the world's stars in the A race could match Lewis- Francis' time.

Bruny Surin won in 10.16, with top Briton Darren Campbell third in 10.20.

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