Silver lining for Meadows in Doha final

Meadows, looking to add to the victories of Dwain Chambers in the 60m and Jessica Ennis in the pentathlon, ran a superb race to again smash the British record she took from Olympic legend Kelly Holmes last month.

But the world outdoor bronze medallist was unable to hold off reigning European indoor champion Mariya Savinova in the final straight, the Russian's longer strides carrying her to a narrow victory.

Savinova clocked one minute 58.26 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year, 0.17secs ahead of Meadows.

Meadows, whose only defeats this year have been at the hands of Savinova, followed the fast early pace before hitting the front with 300m remaining.

The British team captain had opened a four-metre gap at the bell but was gradually reeled in by the fast-finishing Russian.

"With 100m to go I was thinking 'I am going to win it, I am going to win it'," Meadows said. "I looked up at the screen and I saw who was behind me and I kept thinking 'Keep going, keep driving'.

"Maria has run 52.05 for 400m this year and I knew I was up against it. When she passed I thought 'Keep driving'. I thought she was coming back ever so slightly at the end."

Meadows, who won $20,000 prize money, added: "It was a big challenge and the girls were enormously strong.

"When I saw the time I told myself at least it was a new PB. This event is very different and the medal is special to me."

The men's 4x400m relay team won a surprise bronze in a bizarre race which saw athletes from the Bahamas and Jamaica pull up with injuries on the second leg.

The USA were runaway winners ahead of Belgium and Britain's quartet of Conrad Williams, Nigel Levine, Chris Clarke and City of York's Richard Buck.

Buck went out at the semi-final stage of the individual 400m. However, there was a medal for Buck as he brought his team into third place on the anchor leg.

Elsewhere, Steve Lewis was equal sixth in the pole vault and Helen Clitheroe eighth in the 1,500m.

Shot putter Carl Myerscough and the women's 4x400m relay team were both last in their competitions, Samson Oni finished seventh in the high jump and Joice Maduaka crashed out in her 60m semi final.

Meanwhile, Chambers is now concentrating on further glory at the European Championships after adding the world indoor title to the European crown he won in Turin last year.

The former drugs cheat has few chances to compete on the circuit and is ineligible for the Olympics or Commonwealth Games, but is determined not to be bitter about his situation.

"I've had an opportunity to sit down and analyse my situation and there's only two ways I can go about it," he said.

"I can be bitter about things or I can be positive about it.These are the cards I've been dealt and I'm going to use them to the best of my ability, concentrate on running and I enjoy that.

"It makes me a lot more happier so I'll just do that."

Chambers, only the second Briton to win the 60m gold medal, added: "I'm just going to concentrate on the opportunities I do have, and the next is winning at the European Championships."

Middlesborough's Chris Tomlinson was disappointing in the long jump, failing to reach the final.