At the end of a competition that has earned compliments and censure in equal measure for some of the innovations it has brought in, the winning team had so much to spare that the concluding mixed 4x400 metres relay was immaterial to the overall result.

The Americas had led the defending champions by 12 points overnight, and they eventually finished 29 points clear of Europe on 262 points, with Asia-Pacific on 188 with Africa fourth on 142.

Colombia's Ibarguen, who won the Diamond League triple jump and long jump titles on successive days in Zurich and Brussels at the end of last month, registered a national record of 6.93m in winning the long jump here to become the first athlete to win both the long and triple jump at the the World or Continental Cup.

Her fellow Team Americas representative here, world and Olympic triple jump champion Christian Taylor, also ticked two boxes as he dominated his main event, producing four 17m jumps of which the best was 17.59, to help earn double points following the decision to play the Team Americas men's joker on his event.

The other side of that was supplied by Cuban Cristian Napoles, who jumped 17.07 for fifth place.

Taylor ended his day by leading off his team to eventual victory in the mixed 4x400m.

Olympic 400m champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo also played a critical double role in Team Americas' win as she earned victory in a stellar women's 200m field, finishing strongly to pass the double world champion Dafne Schippers to clock 22.16sec, with the Dutch athlete second in 22.28, and then anchoring the mixed 4x400m relay team to maximum points.

"I'm really proud of all the athletes," said Americas team captain Mike Powell, the long jump world record-holder. 

"When I looked at the entries, we had a stacked team.

"Winning the first track race, the 100m hurdles, created a lot of momentum for the team.

"And for me. 

"At first I was kind of watching it, but then I was counting every point, getting really into it.

"When we came through with the relays on the first day, I felt we were in a really good position after that.

"As far as the new things in this competition were concerned, for this kind of competition I think it’s good. 

"You need to be able to try different things, to make sure the fans are interested."

While the previous day's eliminations in the men's 3,000m steeplechase had produced some calamities, those in the men’s flat 3,000m today were more successful in providing entertainment as the field flattened out into an accelerating line each time it approached the crucial four final lap markers.

Asia-Pacific’s Birhanu Balew, second fastest in the world this year, was first to be shown the red card by the track official. 

Africa had played their men's joker for the day on this event - meaning their team points would be doubled if their two representatives’ combined total earned overall victory.

It’s fair to say this gamble failed to play off as Getaneh Molla of Ethiopia was next to go, before Team Europe’s Marc Scott, and then the second African runner, 16-year-old African and world under-20 champion Edward Zakayo, who was either so damaged or demoralised by the penultimate scramble for survival that he dropped off the pace almost immediately.

Rio 2016 silver medallist Paul Chelimo won in 7:57.13 ahead of Americas team-mate Mo Ahmed.

Noah Lyles and Sam Kendricks also secured individual wins for the Americas. 

Lyles caught a fast-starting Su Bingtian of Asia-Pacific to win the 100m by 0.02 in 10.01.

Kendricks, meanwhile, took the pole vault with a 5.85m clearance ahead of Renaud Lavillenie.

Europe's Olympic champion Thomas Rohler was put under pressure in the men's javelin, but came through to win with a final round effort of 87.07m.

World and Olympic champion Caster Semenya won the women's 800m for Africa in 1:54.77 to narrowly miss out on Ana Quirot's competition record of 1:54.44.

Kenya's world 1,500m champion Elijah Manangoi came out on top in a tactical men's race, holding off the European challenge from Marcin Lewandowski and Jakob Ingebrigtsen to win with relative ease in 3:40.00.

And Europe and Russia's Mariya Lasitskene won the women’s high jump with a 2.00m clearance that has now appeared, despite her assurances to the contrary, routine.