Athletics: Olympic golden girl returns to steer Australia home

Australia's Cathy Freeman stepped back into the limelight to capture a gold medal as the curtain came down on the athletics competitions.

And during a night of emotional comebacks, local hero Darren Campbell got the gold that had remained agonisingly out of his reach.

Freeman, returning after a two-year layoff, clinched gold in the women's 4x400m relay.

The Australians, featuring Freeman - the Olympic 400m gold medallist - on the second leg, smashed the Games record to retain their crown, finishing in 3m 25.63s.

"It was very special," Freeman said, commenting on her comeback and the fourth Games medal of her career. "I never dreamed this could happen to me. It's kind of strange.

"I've had fantastic experiences ... unforgettable moments."

At the Sydney Olympics, where she lit the flame and won over a legion of fans, Freeman ran an impressive anchor leg to help the Australians to fifth place in a national-record time.

Her appearance at the Commonwealth Games had a different tone.

The glory days seemed distant, and the relay was the only event she was running in at Manchester because her husband, who is back in Australia, is suffering from cancer.

Freeman took a break from athletics last year, but in early April injured her right thigh and delayed her return. The next month she suffered a fresh setback when her husband's illness was diagnosed.

Freeman said before competing that she was only about 80 per cent fit. She also admitted that she had become unaccustomed to international events.

"This is what I need to get back to it," she said. "It's fantastic to have this medal hanging round my neck."

The roar of the crowd when her name was announced indicated that her popularity had not faded and she delivered an authoritative performance.

Australia were lying sixth when Freeman received the baton, but a smooth handover and a stumble by the leading team, Jamaica, allowed her to push quickly into the lead.

She looked composed and led until the final few metres, when she began to tire and was overtaken by the English runner.

England eventually finished second and Nigeria third.

Campbell's gold as part of England's 4x100m team also fired up the crowd.

The 28-year-old Manchester sprinter won national sympathy when he pulled up in last weekend's 100m with cramp.

Campbell, the silver medallist in Sydney, had been expected to collect gold in the blue riband event.

The European 100m champion later captured bronze in the 200m, but the relay title had a special flavour.

"It's a fitting way to end this championship," Campbell said. "I know the whole team have put every last bit of effort into getting medals."

Campbell revealed this week that he had considered suicide after injuries and illness disrupted his career following his success in Sydney.

Campbell and Jamaica's Asafa Powell duelled down the final leg of the relay and dipped over the line together in 38.62s, but Campbell's chest was shown to cross the line first by a hair's breadth.

It was a triumphant night for England.

The host nation also captured the men's 4x400m relay title in a time of 3m 00.40s; Steve Backley won his third Games javelin title and took his haul to 12 medals in five major championship events with an 86.81m throw; Mike East, who made his international debut this year, smashed his personal best time as he upset the field to win the men's 1500m title in 3m 37.35s; and Kelly Holmes captured the women's 1500m crown in 4m 05.99s.

Also, England's Ashia Hansen retained her triple jump title, edging Cameroon's Francoise Mbango by 4cm with a leap of 14.86m on her last jump.

Earlier, Debbie Ferguson confirmed her position as the outstanding female track and field athlete in Manchester when she collected her third gold medal.

The 26-year-old anchored the Bahamas 4x100m relay team to victory after earlier winning the 100m and 200m individual events.

In doing so, she became the first woman to complete the sprint treble at the Games since Australian Raelene Boyle in 1970 and 1974.

Jamaica snared the top two places in the women's 100m hurdles. Lacena Golding-Clark finished in 12.77s, just ahead of Vonette Dixon.

A notable milestone was provided by Nigeria's sight-impaired sprinter Adekunle Adesoji, who set a world record of 10.76s in the disabled men's 100m.

Running with a guide, Adesoji beat the previous world record - his personal best time - of 10.83s.

- AGENCIES

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