Osaka round-up

Italy's Andrew Howe thought he had won it with his last round jump of 8.47, while bronze was taken by Dwight Phillips, who jumped 8.30 early on and was leading until Saladino jumped 8.46 in the latter stages.

It was a compelling finale, Howe until then well out of the medal places and jumping just over 8m before pulling out a massive personal best and Italian record.

Earlier, Australia's Jana Rawlinson regained her 400m hurdles title with a 53.31 run, a title which she won in a head-to-head in Paris 2003 against silver medalist Yuliya Pechenkina, with Poland's Ana Jesien taking bronze.

Rawlinson, nee Pittman until her marriage to British athlete Chris, held off a strong challenge from the defending champion and world record holder Pechenkina, who was 0.19secs back. Rawlinson was injured last time out in Helsinki.

Germany's Betty Heidler won women's hammer gold with a second round throw of 74.76, with Cuba's Ypsi Moreno taking silver.

Moreno seemed to have won it when her last throw appeared to pass the red line indicating the lead, but it was measured at 74.74. China's Wenxiu Zhang took bronze.

QUALIFYING NEWS

Reigning champion Ladji Doucoure of France failed to make the final of a brutal 110m hurdles qualification after finishing outside the fastest loser slots.

David Payne and Terence Tremmell (both USA), world record holder Liu Xiang and Donpeng (both China), Serhiy Demydyuk (Ukraine), Dayron Robles (Cuba) all automatically qualified with Maurice Wignall and Quiquonez as fastest losers.

Only two men from each of three semis automatically made the final and Doucoure was edged out with a time of 13.36.

In the women's 200m semi finals, Allyson Felix eased to victory over Jamaica's Veronica Campbell with another US runner, Torri Edwards, in third. Cydonie Mothersill of the Cayman Islands also qualified. In heat two, Sanya Richards, Aleen Bailey, Susanthika Jayasinghe and LaShauntea Moore also in the final.

Top European Jesus Espana and 1500m champion Bernard Lagat made it through their 5,000m heat, which was won by Tariku Bekele, although Isaac Songok struggled and failed to qualify after coming seventh.

The next heat was a tough tactical race won by Eliud Kipchoge in a quickish time of 13:33.37, allowing Britain's Mo Farah through as a fastest loser. Crag Mottram of Australia also qualified in fourth place with a controlled run, while Benjamin Limo was lucky to make it as, despite coming seventh, a slow first race allowed him through.

Defending champion Rashid Ramzi, competing less than 24 hours after winning silver in the 1,500m final, made it through a tough third heat, finishing second. Khadevis Robinson, Dimitry Mlikevics, Yuriy Borzakovskiy, Amine Laalou, Wilfrid Bungei and Youssef Saad Kamel other big names through. Brit Michael Rimmer also qualified by coming second to Alfred Yego in his race.