minted World Indoor record holder* in the event, and Yuliya Chizhenko were expected to be in the hunt for top honours in the 1500m. But it was Chizhenko who emerged as the winner from a delightfully tactical contest as she reached the line in 4:04.70.

at least to the enthusiastic crowd at the Olimpiyskiy arena - Wilfred Bungei notched an upset win in the 800 metres over Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy.

The result of men's 4x400m relay was hardly surprising. The United States quartet of Tyree Washington, LaShawn Merritt, Miton Campbell and Wallace Spearmon powered to a commanding 3:03.24 win, more than a second ahead of Poland who clocked a notably brisk 3:04.67.

Tatyana Kotova had been waiting for this since Helsinki when the unsung Tianna Madison snatched gold from her grasp in the Finnish rain. This time there was to be no surprise, as the Russian killed the competition off in round one with a world leading 7.00m. She had qualified with ease with one jump at 6.73 the day before and said. “I usually add around 20cm to my qualification in the finals, so if that happens, it should be OK.” She was as good as her word.

Let’s hear it for the small people. Even as she stood on the podium, Yelena Slesarenko was shorter than silver medallist, Blanca Vlasic, but the Russian was the one with the gold. It’s not always about being tall, as Stefan Holm would agree.

In the competition's race of champions, it was the most highly decorated, Kenenisa Bekele, who emerged victorious in the eagerly-anticipated final in the 3000 metres.

The occasion was probably too much for Andre Niklaus. “I started competing in the Decathlon in 1986,” he said.

tape performance, Maria Mutola showed the world why she is the greatest 800m runner of all-time after winning her seventh World Indoor title.

Tatyana Kotova had been waiting for this since Helsinki when the unsung Tianna Madison snatched gold from her grasp in the Finnish rain. This time there was to be no surprise, as the Russian killed the competition off in round one with a world leading 7.00m.

If it is not one Belarussian it is another. Just when the outdoor World champion Nadezhda Ostapchuk decides to have a bad day, has four no-throws and can manage no better than sixth, along comes second-string Natallia Khoroneko to take responsibility and throw a PB 19.84 for gold.

Scoring a sterling upset, Olesya Krasnomovets finally moved out from compatriot Natalya Nazarova’s shadow with her convincing 50.04 win, breaking the 50.19 Championship record set by Nazorova in Budapest two years ago.

The USA’s Brad Walker had looked serious both in the qualifying and for most of this final until he was sure he had the gold in his possession. It may be partly his nature, but there was another good reason for his caution: “I had a small accident during warm-up yesterday so I wasn’t sure I would be able to compete,” he explained after the poles had been put away.nsert News Comment Here