Osaka JPN - The British were expecting their worst ever showing at these IAAF World Championships, then two women, Christine Ohurogu and Nicola Sanders who have had hardly a handful of races this summer between then, win gold and silver in the 400 metres, just one of the highlights of a brilliant fifth day of action at Nagai stadium.

Ohuruogu leads British 400 1-2

Ohuruogu came back just two weeks ago after a year-long suspension, guesting in the Scottish Championships. Sanders was injured after winning the European indoor title. Novlene Williams of Jamaica laid it on the line, blasting out to a huge lead coming into the finishing straight. But first Sanders, then Ohuruogu crept past just before the line. Both Brits set personal bests, Ohuruogu, who lives within sight of where the 2012 London Olympic stadium will be, won in 49.61, and Sanders was second in 49.65, edging Williams who took bronze in 49.66.

Experience counts – Lagat takes first World title

Bernard Lagat has finally emerged from the shadow of Hicham El Guerrouj, four-time World champion, now retired. Lagat, who won silver and Olympic bronze for Kenya has since become a US citizen, and using that vast experience to situate himself perfectly through a competitive race, he shot out of the pack in the final 50 metres to take victory in 3:34.77. Defending champion, Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain, who has been injured this season couldn’t hold Lagat, and he took silver in 3.35.00, a season’s best. Shedreck Korir of Kenya, just stayed ahead of his talented young compatriot, Asbel Kiprop, to win bronze in 3:35.04.

Discus gold for Dietsch yet again

Franka Dietsch of Germany celebrated her third World Discus Throw title, and second in succession by dancing across the turf. The veteran German, 39 years of age, is more used to gliding across polished floors, since she is a big fan of Latin American dancing. She also knows how to sashay across a discus circle. Her first title came in Sevilla 1999, the year after she won the European title. She wrapped up gold with her opening throw of 66.61m. Darya Pishchalnikova of Russia produced a personal best of 65.78m to take silver, as did Yarelis Barrios of Cuba, winning bronze with 63.90m.

Perry defends as well

Another woman who had her name up in lights, but wasn’t dancing was Michelle Perry of the USA. Given the example of scoreboard error immediately after the women’s 100m, Perry waited for confirmation of victory before she went dancing down the track, following her victory in the 100m Hurdles. But it was almost as tight as the short sprint. Susanna Kallur of Sweden led all the way until the ninth hurdles, when first Canadian Perdita Felicien went past towards silver in 12.49, then Perry to victory in 12.46, then Jamaican Delloreen Ennis-London for bronze in a personal best of 12.50. European champion, Kallur had to be satisfied with a personal best of 12.51 for fourth.

Thomas rises above the crowded field

Donald Thomas is not the most stylish of high jumpers, wriggling over the bar at 2.35m more like a high-board diver than a controlled ‘flopper’. It worked though. The Bahamian did at the first attempt, whereas Vladimir Rybakov of Russia and Cypriot Kuriakos Iannou both cleared on the second. None of them succeeded at 2.37 metres, so Thomas – a 2.24m jumper last year – was the winner. Rybakov was the class of the trio, but couldn’t hack it at the end, finishing second on the countback. Another small island boy, Kyriakos Ioannou of Cyprus had his best attempt on his third.

The event produced some surprises, not least in the quality of failures, either to progress to the final – in the case of defending champion, Yuriy Krimarenko of Ukraine – or to make a mark once there, like World indoor bronze medallist, Linus Thornblad, who failed at 2.21m, and European champion, Andrey Silnov of Russia, who balked at 2.26m. Olympic champion, Stefan Holm at least jumped 2.33m, and looked good, but he lacked the inspiration of the medallists, and finished fourth.