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Sanya Richards of the USA set a world-leading time in winning the 400 metres at the Golden League meeting in Oslo in 49.23 seconds while Britain's Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu finished sixth.

Richards is now out for the jackpot having already won the Golden League opener in 49.57 in Berlin last month for a then-year-best time.

"I've been feeling great in training these past few weeks. And I'm all the happier that my parents are here with me," said Richards, who said coach Clyde Hart had urged her to be patient and concentrate hard into the final stretch.

"I finished well. I am on form and I think I can go under 49s soon.

"That's my best time today since 2006 and the fourth best of my career," said Richards, 24, who bagged her fifth US national title in the 400m last week in Eugene, Oregon.

Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva won the women's pole vault , also claiming her second Golden League win.

The Russian, below par at an event hit by bad weather, won by clearing 4.71 metres on her second attempt, beating Monica Pyrek into second place after the Pole cleared the height on her third attempt.

Svetlana Feofanova, another Russian, was third, clearing 4.66.

Isinbayeva began jumping at 4.71 when only the two opponents remained in contention. After she failed the first attempt, the meeting was interrupted by heavy rain.

The Russian returned to clear the height but then failed all her attempts at 4.81.

"I am happy to win, but not with the result," said Isinbayeva, who is bidding for the $1 million Golden League jackpot for the winner of all six major meetings, having won the opening event in Berlin last month.

"It was very difficult with all the waiting... It was one of the longest competitions I've ever competed in during my life. First to wait before my first jump, and then waiting for the rain (to stop).

"There are four more (Golden League meetings) left, then the World Championships. I'm happy I'm still involved in this game."

She added that she hoped she was in better shape for the next meeting in Rome, saying she needed to do some power training in order to improve.

With the men's events missing several big names, former world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica won the 100 metres with both his team-mate Usain Bolt and American Tyson Gay not in the field.

Powell recovered from a poor start to win in 10.07 seconds, beating Antigua and Barbuda's Daniel Bailey on the line with the pair sharing the same time. Jamaica's Michael Frater was third in 10.08.

"I was strong enough today," said Powell. "Bad start and my legs were heavy. I tried just to win."

Trinidad & Tobago's Renny Quow won the men's400 metres in 45.18s in the absence of Americans LaShawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner.

In the women's high jump, Croatian world champion Blanka Vlasic won as the only jumper clearing two metres.

In the men's javelin, Norway's double Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen failed to delight the home crowd as he finished third with a best throw of 83.15 metres. World champion Tero Pitkamaki won with 84.63.

Reuters / AFP