BYDGOSZCZ, Poland, June 19 (AFP) - Britain’s Olympicsprint hope Mark Lewis-Francis was disqualified from the100 metres at the European Cup here on Saturday whileMehdi Baala of France showed his form for Athens byeasing home in the 1,500m.
Lewis-Francis was ruled out after making two falsestarts, allowing Lukasz Chyla of Poland to win in amodest 10.42sec into a strong headwind.
The 21-year-old Briton made amends by anchoring theBritish quartet to victory in the 4x100m relay with atime of 38.67.
World championships silver medallist Baala held offCommonwealth champion Michael East of Britain in the1,500m to win in a time of 3min 49.13sec while Russia’s800m specialist Youri Borzakovskiy finished third in arare appearance at the metric mile.
Britain took maximum points in this two-day teamcompetition thanks to victory for Chris Rawlinson in the400m hurdles and towering shot putter Carl Myerscough inhis event with a throw of 20.85m.
There was bad news for British triple jumper AshiaHansen who was carried from the sandpit with whatappeared to be a knee injury after collapsing in agonyon her first jump.
Hansen finished eighth and last in a competition wonby Russia’s Anna Pyatykh, in a 2004 world-leadingdistance of 14.85 metres.
French women’s sprinter Christine Arron was a clearwinner of the 100m in 11.23sec.
Britain were leading the men’s competition by 5.5points from Poland at the end of the first day withRussia ahead of France by 23 points in the women’sstandings.
World marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe isrunning her first track race for almost two years wheshe competes in the 5,000m for Britain on Sunday.