Liu Hong claims bronze in women's 20 km race

China's Liu Hong, the 2009 world bronze and 2011 world silver medallist, clocked 1:28:10 to take the bronze in the women's 20 km race during the IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow Aug 13, 2013.

Liu Hong of China holds her national flag after finishing third in the women's 20 km race walk final during the IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Aug 13, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

The American also enjoyed a one-two finish in the men's 400m race.  Former Olympic and world champion LaShawn Merritt clocked a world leading time of 43.74 to win the gold while Tony Mcquay of finished second in a personal best of 44.40. Luguelin Santos of Dominican Republic took the bronze in 44.52.

"I've said it many times already, I was hungry. Probably the hungriest person in the field. No, I was starving. It's been a while since I was able to perform at my highest level. I was mentally and physically confident, I knew what I had to do, so I just had to produce it. As for the time, that race didn't feel that hard, so I think faster times will definitely come," said Merritt gold medalist in 2008 Olympics and 2009 worlds.

The women's steeplechase event also witnessed a world leading performance on Tuesday as Kenya's Milcah Chemos Cheywa clocked 9 minutes 11.65 seconds to grab the gold.

Cheywa's compatriot Lydia Chepkurui pocketed the silver in 9:12. 55 while Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia earned the bronze in 9:12.84.

The absence of Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill left the women's heptathlon wild open with the top five finishers all achieving personal best in Moscow.

Ukraine's Ganna Melnichenko claimed the title in 6586 points while Canada's Brianne Theisen Eaton, wife of America's world record holder Ashton Eaton who won the men's decathlon world title on Sunday, finished second in 6530 points.

Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands set a new national record of 6477 to take the bronze.

Defending champion Robert Harting of Germany proved his high- level consistency as he claimed the third straight discus world title with the winning mark of 69.11 meters in the fourth round.

Poland's Piotr Malachowski, 30, took the silver with a fifth round effort of 68.36 while Gerd Kanter of Estonia, gold medalist at 2008 Beijing Olympics, notched the bronze at 65.19.

Bronze medallist Liu Hong of China poses during the victory ceremony for the women's 20 kilometres race walk at the IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Aug 13, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]