WELSH sprinter Christian Malcolm believes that Britain's current golden age of sprinting was inspired by a golden run from Linford Christie.

The recent performances of Dwain Chambers and Mark Lewis-Francis - who have both beaten Olympic champion Maurice Greene over the last few weeks - have shown that our current sprinters are amongst the world's best.

Other top stars include Darren Campbell, Jason Gardener and Malcolm himself, who won Commonwealth 200m silver in 1998 and finished fifth in the same race at the Sydney Olympics.

"It's an amazing time for British sprinting," says Malcolm. "I would suggest that we have all in our own separate ways been inspired by Linford Christie's gold medal in the 100m in 1992.

"Lads such as myself, Dwain, Darren and Jason were all 10-15 years old at the time, and I remember watching the television and thinking 'I'm the fastest sprinter in my club, maybe I could achieve that'."

The standard being set by Chambers and Lewis-Francis is such that all the other British hopefuls are having to improve rapidly so as not to be left behind.

Malcolm believes this creates healthy competition in the Great Britain squad, but is looking forward to the sparks flying as the runners separate in to the England, Scotland and Wales teams in Manchester.

Said the 23-year-old: "I've had a hamstring injury and illness problems this year, which has made it very tough to keep up with some of the times that people are clocking.

"But I'm getting my rhythm back now and those performances from other guys are keeping me focussed.

"I ran quite well at the Welsh Games earlier in the week and am trying to improve over the next fortnight before the Commonwealth events.

"In Manchester there will be a lot of friendly rivalry between the British athletes, but nothing more sinister than that.

"The English guys are really good friends of mine and have supported me through difficulties, just as I've helped them.

"But I expect that there will be a lot of banter flying about as we prepare for the relays."

While Malcolm is keen to discuss the harmony among Britain's elite, young Lewis-Francis has been winding up colleague Chambers ahead of this weekend's Norwich Union Trials for the European Championships.

Chambers has decided to only run the 200m, because he is assured of the selectors' discretionary pick in the 100m.

Asked if he thought Chambers was running scared, Lewis-Francis said: "It sounds like it, for him not to run sounds like a weak way out.

"I'm not number one until I have beaten the number one and I thought this race was the one for me to come out and say yes I'm only 19 but I can still beat the best'.

"But there will be many more times to come, with the Commonwealth Games just down the road. I will beat him where it counts."

By Richard Mulligan