Trecia takes Triple

Having fouled her first jump, the 29-year-old Jamaican consistently passed 14.50 with the rest of her attempts and her last two jumps were past 15m, something none of the other competitors could manage.

Big-tournament debutante Yargelis Savigne of Cuba picked up unexpected silver with Anna Pyatykh of Russia getting bronze. And while the big-name withdrawals took the gloss off the performance, the reality is that Smith would most probably have taken at least silver with her distance whatever the field.

A wonderful 800m capped off one of the tightest Heptathlons in history, with the final race containing all the big names. Eunice Barber needed to beat Kluft by at least a second to triumph in the overall standings, and while the powerful Frenchwoman initially raced ahead with Britain's Kelly Sotherton, Kluft remained patient and out-sprinted her rival at the death to take gold.

Olympic medallist Sotherton had a terrible Javelin to slip into fifth place, around 200 points adrift of Bronze. However she wasn't disheartened and maintained a frightening pace throughout the race to smash her pb by three seconds in 2:07.96, in the end only 50 points off Ghana's Margaret Simpson in third place overall.

And while Barber was clearly using Sotherton as a mark to try and keep distance from Kluft, the injured Swede stayed within touching distance and somehow clawed back a 15m deficit at 600m to power home in her own personal best of 2:08.89.

Kluft adds the World title to her Olympic gold to maintain her position as the second overall ranked female athlete, behind just Yelena Isinbayeva.

It was hardly unexpected, but the manner of Justin Gatlin's 100m triumph highlighted his position as top pressure-runner, easing to a fantastic 9.88s victory in the final on Sunday. He was a good 0.16s ahead of second placed Michael Frater, with fomer world champ Kim Collins edged into bronze by less than a hundredth of a second.

The track was fast and conditions good and, while his times in qualifying hadn't been anything to write home about, Gatlin had won all his races thus far and seemed to be running within himself until the final.

All the expected names had made the last eight, although Britain's Jason Gardner was unluckily edged into fifth in a very fast semi in spite of a season's best of 10.08s.

Virgilius Alekna, Olympic and World champion, had qualified comfortably and took an early lead with consecutive second- and third-round throws ten centimetres shy either side of 68m. However, Estonian Gert Kanter hit back with a massive fourth-round effort of 68.57m, which looked to have won the event.

Indeed, after his final-round throw, there were only two competitors left, with third-placed German Michael Mollenbeck opting to pass his last try, content with bronze.

But one can never underestimate the mental strength Alekna possesses to complement his undoubted talent, and with the final throw of the competition the giant Lithuanian sent the discus past 70m to delight the supporters.

Alekna's throw of 70.17 is a new championship record.

400m hurdles semi - Bershawn Jackson threatens to "unleash the beast" while Felix Sanchez has to settle for a final spot as fastest loser after young South African Van Zhyl blows away field. Keita, Clement (pictured) through to final while McFarlane blows it at final hurdle...

Women's 800m semi - Maria Mutola was lucky to make the final, falling away but grabbing a fastest loser spot as Andrianova and Cherkasova progresses. Calatayud and Benhassi impress, but Kameisha Bennet distraught after losing a shoe when Andrianova pushes through the pack...

Women's 100m 2nd round - Christine Arron glides through to the semis in 11.03s. Is this finally her time? All the big names make it, Sturrup and Williams looking calm...