Another experienced former world champion – pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva – re-established her superiority after two uncertain years by securing her first global title since the Beijing 2008 Olympics, while athletics newcomer Mohammed Aman became the youngest gold medallist at these Championships by winning the 800m with an assured performance.

Britain's disappointment at Farah's relative failure was tempered by the gold medal won by their women's 4x400m relay team as Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu, who false-started at last year's World Championships in Daegu, took them from third to first as she passed her Russian and US competitors in a superb return to her old form before handing over to Perri Shakes-Drayton to run the anchor leg.

The 400m hurdles specialist then held off the individual world indoor champion Sandra Richards-Ross from the US to give Britain the title by just 0.03sec, recording 3min 28.76sec.


Britain also secured bronze medals in the pole vault through Holly Bleasdale (pictured), who jumped 4.70m to Isinbayeva's 4.80, and 800m through Andrew Osagie, as well as a gold in the women's long jump, where Shara Procter, formerly of Anguilla, raised her national record to 6.89 behind defending champion Brittney Reese of the US, whose effort of 7.23m contributed one of the ten golds won by her country in these Championships – a record haul at a World Indoor Championships for any one nation.

Lagat ran a wily race before out-sprinting the opposition on the final lap to win in 7:41.77.

The Kenyan pair of Augustine Choge and Edwin Soi picked up the minor medals with Farah fourth.

Farah was briefly upgraded to bronze post-race after a referee disqualified Soi for obstructing the British athlete.

However, a jury of appeal later reinstated Soi to the bronze medal position.

US success was maintained in the men's 60m hurdles as Aries Merritt powered to victory to a shock victory.

Pre-race favourite Liu Xiang of China never recovered from a poor start but Merritt, by contrast, made a slick start and the US champion could not be caught, stopping the clock in 7.44.

Liu, the 2008 champion, finished a further 0.05 back in silver.


The US delivered a one-two in the men's triple jump with Will Claye (pictured) setting a world leading mark of 17.70m to take gold.

Claye, who had finished fourth in Saturday's long jump final, bound out to his winning leap in round four to complete a his hectic championship schedule in style.

Christian Taylor, the world outdoor champion, led with a 17.63m effort from the first round but could not respond to Claye's jump.

Veronica Campbell-Brown powered through in the latter stages of the women's 60m final win in a world-leading time of 7.01sec

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