Isinbayeva was 40 cm below her world record of 5.05 m, but decided in deteriorating conditions that it was not worth to continue after one jump for victory with 4.65 m. Compatriot Svetlana Feofanova was second with 4.55 m and third-placed Anna Rogowska of Poland had the same height.

'The weather was terrible. But I won and that was the most important for me. I am still looking for breaking my world record but I knew I could forget it with this hard rain,' said the world and Olympic champion Isinbayeva.

Stewart just dipped below 11 seconds in the 100 m with 10.99 seconds as rain set in. Chandra Sturrup of the Bahamas had 11.15 and Jamaican Aleen Bailey 11.26 for third place.

In the rarely contested 3,000m, Olympic champion in 5,000 m and 10,000 m Bekele quickly ran away from Kenya-born American 1,500 m and 5,000 m world champion Bernhard Lagat to win in 7:28.64 minutes. Lagat had a personal best 7:33.15.

'I got a cold during the race. Now I am sick,' said Bekele. 'But I'm very satisfied to be still in the race for the jackpot.'

Richards surged on the home to win the 400 m in 49.34 seconds from Jamaican Noviene Williams Mills (50.39) and Amantle Montsho of Botswana (50.61).

'Honestly, I am very satisfied by my victory. It was cold tonight and I am proud I ran under 50,' said Richards, who fell just short of her 2009 world leading 49.23 seconds.

In other action, three-time defending world champion Jeremy Wariner won the 400 m in a modest 45.28 seconds with a surge on the last 50 m. The time was far away from the 2009 world lead 44.50 from fellow-American Olympic champion LaShawn Merritt.

Croatian world champion Blanka Vlasic won the high jump with 1.99 m and new French star Renaud Lavillenie took first place in the men's pole vault with a modest 5.70 m in the difficult conditions.