World Athletics 2013: Yelena Isinbayeva wins pole vault gold

Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva missed out on a world record but claimed her third world title in a thrilling final in Moscow.

Before the biggest crowd of the championships, she cleared 4.89m but was unable to set a world best of 5.07.

The 31-year-old helped create a magical atmosphere and celebrated wildly with the enthusiastic home crowd.

America's LaShawn Merritt also reclaimed his 400m world title with a commanding performance.

It was expected to be a close race between Grenada's defending champion Kirani James, the reigning Olympic champion, and the American, but the battle never materialised as 2008 Olympic gold medallist Merritt won comfortably in 43.74 seconds.

James, 20, trailed 2009 champion Merritt by a distance coming off the bend and slipped into reverse as he meekly crossed the line in seventh in a time of 44.99.

United States' Tony McQuay took silver and Domican Republic's Luguelin Santos bronze.

"I was really hungry for this title and probably the hungriest man on that track," said Merritt, who served a 21-month drugs ban in 2009, was runner-up to James in 2011 and failed to qualify for the London 2012 final because of injury.

"In fact, I was starving because of the disappointment two years ago and in London last year," he added.

"I was mentally and physically in the zone, out to prove that I am still a force in the event at this level. I lost a lot when I was banned but I never lost my will to win."

James said: "It just didn't work out for me. It is back to the drawing board, see what's going on. I didn't come into the Worlds expecting this, but you just move forward."

But the evening belonged to one athlete, the poster girl of Russian athletics and the greatest female pole vaulter in history.

Isinbayeva had said that she would retire after these World Championships but recently reversed that decision, claiming she would return to competition after having started a family.

Upon learning that she had won gold ahead of America's Jennifer Suhr and Cuba's Yarisley Silva, Isinbayeva sprinted into the stands to be embraced by the spectators.

The London 2012 bronze medallist eventually made her way back to the track to attempt to beat her own world record but the evening was not to end with a 29th world record for the Russian.

It mattered little, however, as the overjoyed Russian fans serenaded their favourite on a lap of honour at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, with the two-time Olympic champion returning the favour by shouting "thank you" to her fans.

"I have plenty of emotions, they will only increase, not disappear," she said. "I didn't jump the world record - no biggie. The record is a bonus.

"I started jumping and screaming after 4.82m, after 4.89m I let all my emotions come out.

"By 5.07m I was just tired, but technically the attempts were good. I have two more competitions this season so I will try to break the record again.

"Now I'm happy. I'm the pole vault queen, the crown is mine."

In the men's discus final, Germany's Robert Harting picked up his third World Championship gold, to go with his London 2012 Olympic title.

Harting's fourth attempt of 69.11m was enough to see off Polish rival Piotr Malachowski, who could only manage a best of 68.36m.

Estonia's Gerd Kanter took bronze with his throw of 65.19m.

The men's 800m final did not feature any of the London 2012 medallists and Mohammad Aman took advantage.

The 19-year-old ran down American Nick Symmonds over the final 50m to claim Ethiopia's first medal at a distance below 5,000m at a major championships. Britain's Andrew Osagie came home fifth in 1:44.36.

Milcah Chemos Cheywa of Kenya claimed gold in the women's 3,000m steeplechase in a time of 9:11.65 to finish ahead of compatriot Lidya Chepkurui and Ethiopia's Sofia Assefa.

Eilish McColgan finished in 10th for Britain in a time of 9:37.33.

Ukrainian heptathlete Ganna Melnichenko won her first major title, finishing ahead of Canadian Brianne Theisen Eaton, who earned a silver medal to hang next to husband Ashton Eaton's decathlon gold.

World junior champion Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands charged down the home straight to finish third and secure the bronze medal.