Lagat makes history

A slow tactical race saw a 300m sprint finish that Lagat won over Rachid Ramzi of Bahrain, with Shedrack Korir of Kenya third.

Britain's Andy Baddeley was unable to launch a meaningful sprint finish after being hemmed in at the back of the pack but finished a creditable ninth. The world leader Alan Webb, also of the USA, finished eighth.

Michelle Perry won the women's 100m hurdles final in one of the top races at the championships.

The American set a personal best of 12.46, Perdita Felicien of Canada taking silver and Delloreen Ennis-London bronze with another p.b. of 12.50, running Susanna Kallur out to fourth.

A superb run in which Angela Whyte came last despite setting a super time of 12.66 saw Kallur and Lolo Jones start ferociously but the eventual top three decelerating the least for a photo finish.

Donald Thomas of the Bahamas wins the men's high jump with a shock win.

He equalled his personal best of 2.35 to edge out Yarsolav Rybakov (Russia) and Kyriakos Ioannou (Cyrpus) respectively on the countback rule. Olympic champions Stefan Holm (Sweden) came fourth.

An impressive Jeremy Wariner slowed down to a walk for the final part of his 400m semi final win but still set a time of 44.34 seconds as British hope Tim Benjamin was outclassed in a tough field. LaShawn Merritt also impressed in winning his semi with a 44.31 run.

German veteran Franke Dietzsch retained her women's World discus title with a 66.61 metre throw in Osaka.

The 39-year-old held off the discipline's young guns, led by silver medallist Darya Pishchalnikova, with her first round throw and a consistent selection of 65m+ efforts for a third World title. Pishchalnikova set a lifetime record of 65.78. Cuba's Yarelis Barrios took bronze, also with a personal best of 63.90.

World record holder Liu Xiang comfortably won his 110m hurdles heat.

American Terrence Trammell and Cuban Dayron Robles also won their preliminary races with defending champion Ladji Doucoure of France coming second to Robles.

Trammell clocked 13.40 seconds and Robles ran 13.41 seconds with Doucoure finishing in 13.61. China's Shi Dongpeng was the day's fastest in 13.22, winning a race in which Brit Andy Turner also qualified for the next phase. US record holder Dominique Arnold withdrew with an Achilles injury.

Joice Maduaka reached the women's 200m quarter-finals, finishing third in 23.22 behind Jamaica's newly crowned 100 metres champion, Veronica Campbell, in the final heat. American Allyson Felix impressively qualifying. She ran 22.50 seconds.

American Sanya Richards also won her opening race in 22.74.