IN THE end, it was a bit of a damp squib. The much-anticipated first 400 metres race between South African amputee Oscar Pistorius and able-bodied Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner ended with the former disqualified and the latter failing to finish after stumbling as he came out the blocks.
American Angelo Taylor took advantage of Wariner's misfortune, winning the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield last night in 45.25sec, 0.39sec ahead of Australia's John Steffensen.
Much of the attention ahead of the race at the Don Vall
ey stadium was focused on Pistorius, who runs with the aid of carbon fibre blades on both legs below the knees, but he was disqualified for running outside of his lane after trailing in last of the seven remaining finishers.
The IAAF last month gave Pistorius permission to race against able-bodied athletes and he is hoping to compete in next year's Olympic Games in Beijing.
Pistorius, who has been dubbed 'Blade Runner', finished over a second behind sixth-placed Ato Modibo of Trinidad, and the South African said: "I've really learned a lot from this. Things like the way they train and the way they compete. I have a long, long way to go before I get to that level."
Pistorius later withdrew a protest he lodged about his disqualification.
Wariner, meanwhile, seemed to slip as he came out the blocks and the American took no further part in the race.
Earlier in the evening, Marlon Devonish gave Tyson Gay an unexpected scare by running this year's world No 1 in the 100 metres to a margin of just a 0.1 seconds at rain-soaked Sheffield.
The American's appearance following his winning time of 9.84sec at the USA Championships, had hinted he might attack Asafa Powell's world record.
But in wet and cold conditions the likelihood of lowering the 9.77sec figure the Jamaican has achieved on three occasions in the last two years was always unlikely.
Gay, who won in 10.13sec, was pushed to the wire by Devonish who has been in sensational form this year over 100m rather than his specialist 200m distance.
"I showed today that I can mix it with the likes of Tyson Gay when they are running so well," said Devonish, after finishing in a time of 10.23secs and just ahead of European champion Francis Obikwelu.
"I was in the mix until at least 80 metres," added Devonish, who earlier in the programme finished fifth over 200m.
The British team captain added: "The 200m probably took the last 20m out of me."
Devonish, who set a personal best of 10.08secs last Tuesday in Lausanne, insisted: "If I get the start I had today with the finish I had in Lausanne, I would be there or thereabouts."
Devonish, last summer's European 200m bronze medallist, revealed he was planning to double up at next month's world championships in Osaka.
Gay admitted his disappointment but vowed to make amends when next competing on British soil in London on 3 August.
Last year's world cup champion said: "I'm a little bit disappointed and it wasn't the best time but I'm satisfied with the victory. I really expected to run better but my body just wasn't ready yet.
"Now I have to do some speed work to get ready for Crystal Palace. If everything goes right there, I could really run a fast time."
Andy Baddeley brought back distant memories of the days when British runners were the best in the world with victory in the 1,500m.
The 25-year-old British number one chose the same venue where Peter Elliott beat Steve Cram in an epic race 16 years ago, to confirm he is emerging into a world-class performer.
Baddeley, a surprise third in last month's Oslo 'Dream Mile', showed that display was no fluke to beat several of the world's top performers including the 2004 Olympic silver and bronze medallists Bernard Lagat and Rui Silva.
The world student Games silver medallist lowered his personal best by almost two seconds in a time of three minutes 34.74 seconds to dent the ambitions of Silva and Lagat with a searing burst down the home straight.
The victory was emphatic and although it might be a little early to forecast the UK has another world beater in the making, the manner in which he beat the Portuguese and American stars, does bode well for the future.
Baddeley said: "I wasn't really thinking about the time."
Adamant the time he spent down under training with top Australian Craig Mottram's training group has acted as a catapult to his ambitions, he said: "I can only do my best and I still feel like I'm learning.
"I was still with the leader at the last 200m and I knew that if I went with 100m to go that no-one would catch me."
Hattie Dean was similarly elated after lowering her own 3,000m steeplechase record for the third time in five weeks - although she was pushed into third place by the Jamaican pair of Korine Hinds and Mardrea Hyman.
But Dean, who set her last record of 9:42.66 when winning the European Cup League One title three weeks ago, was delighted with her improvement to 9:38.56.
Dean said: "I am very surprised at the way I ran today. The pressure was on with so many British runners in the race."
Fourth placed Helen Clitheroe earned the qualifier for next month's World Championships with a lifetime best of 9:45.22.
Nicola Sanders showed after a season delayed due to an Achilles injury that she is determined to regain full fitness before the world championships with victory in the 400m.
Scotland's Lee McConnell finished fourth in the 400m hurdles in 56.04, behind winner Jana Rawlinson of Australia in 54.59.
