(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-03-10 10:19

Silver medalllist Arnie David Girat of Cuba was way back on 17.47, while world outdoor champion Nelson Evora took the bronze with a leap of 17.27.

Blanka Vlasic deprived Olympic champion Elena Slesarenko of a hat-trick of indoor titles when she won the high jump.

The Croatian cleared 2.03 metres, while the Russian could only manage 2.01, the same height as bronze medallist Vita Palamar.

EXTRA GEAR

Canada's Tyler Christopher found an extra a gear in the final straight of the men's 400m to snatch the gold from Johan Wissman of Sweden in a time of 45.67, the fastest mark in the world this year.

As expected the women's 400m was an all-Russian affair with Olesya Zykina equalling her world leading time of the year of 51.09 as she managed to hold off Natalya Nazarova by one hundredth of a second in the lunge for the finishing line.

Portugal's Naide Gomes, the world pentathlon champion in 2004, took the honours in the long jump with a leap of seven metres exactly, with Brazilian Maurren Maggi taking silver ahead of Russian favourite Irina Simagina.

New Zealander Valerie Vili added the world indoor crown to her outdoor title with victory in the women's shot with a new area record of 20.19 metres.

In the pole vault Evgeniy Lukyanenko beat defending champion Brad Walker with a clearance of 5.90 metres while the American had to settle for a new personal best of 5.85 ahead of Steven Hooker of Australia.

Russia won their eighth consecutive gold in the women's 4 x 400m relay ahead of Belarus and the United States won their seventh title in the men's race.

The US ended up top of the pile in the medals table with five goals, five silver and three bronze, one silver better than the Russian haul.

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