Europe and Russia took the team titles at the IAAF World Cup but the second day of competition belonged to Qatar-based Saif Saaeed Shaheen and Sanya Richards of the US who completed competition doubles...
Shaheen, running for Asia, produced a spectacular finish to add the 3,000 metres steeplechase to the 5,000 metres that he won on Saturday.
Richards, meanwhile, who won the 400 metres on the opening day, made easy work of the 200, winning in a time of 22.23.
Both Shaheen and Richards, however, ended up on the losing sides in the competition as Europe won the men's title for the first time since 1981 and Russia retained the women's title they won in Madrid four years ago.
Returning to the track where he ran 7:56.32 - the fastest time of the year - in July, Shaheen contented himself with a slow pace, sitting on the shoulder of the Kenyan runner Paul Kipsiele Koech in the steeplechase.
With 300 metres remaining, he made his break and in a tight finish just outsprinted Koech. Shaheen's winning time of 8:19.09 was just 0.28 seconds quicker than Koech.
"My first thought was to stay behind and follow the pace. I wasn't tired and I am very satisfied in fulfilling my goals," said Shaheen.
The US continued their domination of the sprint events with Wallace Spearmon cruising to victory in the 200 metres in 19.87 while Allen Johnson clocked 12.96 to snatch the 110 metres hurdles from Olympic champion and world record holder Xiang Lu.
World indoor and outdoor champion Walter Davis took the triple jump with a leap of 17.54 metres while the Australian Craig Mottram defended his World Cup title in the 3,000 metres, beating Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele in a time of 7:32.19.
Richards, who broke the US 400 metres record on Saturday, looked comfortable as she eased to victory in the 200 metres ahead of European champion Kim Gevaert.
The Jamaican Brigitte Foster-Hylton, representing the Americas, won a thrilling 100 metres hurdles. Her time of 12.67 just edged out the European champion Susanna Kallur, who was one-tenth of a second behind.
World record holder Meseret Defar, of Ethiopia was another comfortable winner in the 5,000 metres, romping home in 14:39.11, more than 26 seconds ahead of the Russian Liliya Shobukhova.
In spite of her win, Defar was disappointed not to break her own world record of 14:24.53 set in New York in June.
"My aim was to break the world record but it was difficult because I ran alone. If I had a pacemaker I think I would have been able to do it," she said.
Results
World Cup Men: 1. Europe 140 points; 2. US 136; 3. Africa 116; 4. Asia 110; 5. Americas 104; 6. Russia 89; 7. France 79; 8. Oceania 78; 9. Greece 44.
World Cup Women: 1. Russia 137; 2. Europe 128; 3. Americas 117; 4. US 101.5; 5. Poland 97; 6. Africa 96.5; 7. Asia 85.5; 8. Oceania 73; 9. Greece 60.5.