Russia's world record holder has had an inconsistent outdoor season this year after making a return from her extended break in 2010, despite showing occasional glimpses of the peerless form, which has made her the greatest female pole vaulter in history.

She sat out the final here at the 2011 World Athletics Champions, sitting to one side with a towel over her head, until 4.65 metres, which she cleared at the first attempt.

It seemed the curse of the cover star was about to be ended, as her picture adorned an official programme which had previously featured Steven Hooker, the Australian Olympic champion pole vaulter who failed to qualify, Usain Bolt, who false-started out of the 100 metre final, and Dayron Robles, disqualified for impeding after coming home first in the 110m hurdles.


But no.

That was the Russian's only clearance of the night as Murer went on to set South American record of 4.85m.

"These moments happen in life," said Isinbayeva, whose last attempt at 4.80m saw her sail ignominiously under the bar.

"This was a difficult day for me.

"My physical shape was very good.

"Everything was ready for victory, but I do not know what went wrong.

"I am very sad.

"This is not the result I wanted."

Jessica Ennis failed to retain her world heptathlon title after a below-par javelin throw of 39.95m - almost seven metres short of her best - enabled Russia's 23-year-old Tatyana Chernova to move past her and secure gold after staying in touch with the Briton in the concluding 800m event.


Ennis ran a personal best of 2min 07.81sec, but she could only finish a couple of strides ahead of her far taller opponent when, realistically, she needed a margin of half the finishing straight.

"I have mixed emotions," said Britain's European and World indoor champion, for whom this was the first championship heptathlon where she has not improved her personal best total.

"But I can't complain about my performance overall.

"I think it was strong, but the javelin was so poor.

"Tatyana had a brilliant javelin and that was enough to build that gap and take the gold medal.

"If it would not have been for that, I think I could have won the gold medal.

"The motivation is always there and I have to get everything right to be on top of the podium next year at the Olympics."

For Chernova, this win completed a set of world youth, junior and senior titles, but the main satisfaction she took from it was in looking forward to London 2012.

"The victory is very important to me because it gives me a self confidence before the Olympic year," she said.

"For the first time I managed to beat Jessica Ennis and that is some kind of breakthrough for me.

"Ennis will be at home in London 2012 but even here she was very strong.

"She made a few mistakes that enabled me to win this title.

"The key moment of the competition was in the javelin throw because that is my strong event."


Kenya's world 800m record holder David Rudisha, so disappointed with his poor performance in the last World Championship final when he ran poorly in rainy conditions, put matters right here by claiming gold in 1.43.91, after a sustained sprint the length of the finishing straight had taken him clear of a field, which included double world indoor champion Abubaker Kaki of Sudan and Russia's 2004 Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy.

A determined final effort from Kaki took him past the Russian just before the line for silver, which he claimed in 1.44.41, with Borzakovskiy taking bronze in 1.44.49.

Now Rudisha intends to try and improve his world record of 1:41.01 - and so, presumably, to become the first 1:40 runner of all time.

Olympic and world 400m champion LaShawn Merritt, back after a doping suspension, had to settle for silver here as he was overhauled on the brink of victory by Kirani James of Grenada, who finished in a personal best of 44.60sec, 0.03 ahead of the American.

"I hope to see more and more Grenada folks," beamed James, who won the world youth title in 2009 and the world junior title last year.

"I hope we get teams ready by next year for the Olympics and I wish to do some great things."

Reigning Olympic champion Merritt, returning to the world stage after a two year doping ban for testing positive for anabolic steroid DHEA he ingested in a sexual enhancement product , could only look on in horror as his title defence fell limp.


"I just had some mechanical issues in the final metres that went wrong," the 25-year-old said.

"I was focused on the finish line and I didn't quite execute as I wanted to.

"It's all about execution.

"I don't know what went wrong with the race but I'll go back and have a look.

"I came with a plan and I almost stuck to it. But the race is over now.

"I got a silver, I'm on the podium and feeling great and healthy and that's my number one concern."

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