Rising Australian distance running stars Jeff Riseley and Ben St Lawrence turned in world-class performances against two of track and field's global stars at the Melbourne Track Classic on Thursday night.

Riseley put Beijing Olympic champ Asbel Kiprop of Kenya to the sword in the 1500m for the second straight year in Melbourne.

And St Lawrence threatened to cause an even bigger boilover before finishing second to 2007 world champ Bernard Lagat in the 5000m.

Riseley - who missed last year's Commonwealth Games with a foot injury - has now won the 1500m title at the Olympic Park meet in four of the last five years, including the last three on the trot.

"With 100 metres to go I just found that gear," said Riseley, 24, after clocking a winning time of three minutes 36.71 seconds.

"I know I can do it.

"I've had a bit of a fight with my body.

"It hasn't really allowed me to do all the things I want to ... now it's a matter of getting some good consistent training done."

Kiprop was second in 3:37.63, ahead of American Alan Webb and New Zealand's Nick Willis, the 2008 Beijing Olympic silver medallist.

The 5000m had been built up as the event of the night and it didn't disappoint. St Lawrence challenged Lagat with 200m to go and even though the Kenyan-born American was able to pull away and win in 13:08.43, the New South Welshman's second-placed time of 13:10.08 moved him to second on the Australian all-time list.

The only Australian to have run the distance faster, Craig Mottram, was an encouraging sixth in 13:25.15 in only his second serious hitout over 5000m in two and a half years.

St Lawrence claimed the national title as the first local runner across the line and also guaranteed himself a spot on the Australian team for the world championships in South Korea later this year.

"I was expecting quite a good race but that blew my mind," said the 29-year-old after slashing 15 seconds off his personal best.

"To be up there racing with those guys was sensational and I'd like to be able to do it a few more times.

"To race that calibre of athlete and come second, to challenge for the win in the final straight is easily the best race I've ever had."

After enduring a dreadful couple of years while he battled an Achilles injury, Mottram had deliberately kept expectations low ahead of his return to top-level competition.

But the 2005 world championship bronze medallist could still take plenty of encouragement from the run.

"I just wanted to come and enjoy being back on the track," he said. "It was a quality field out there - 13:25 is not a bad result, it's a good start and obviously I'll build from there."

Sydney schoolboy Steve Solomon caused a massive boilover in the men's 400m, winning in a huge personal best of 46.12 ahead of Commonwealth silver medallist Sean Wroe (46.23) and New Delhi relay gold medallist Kevin Moore (46.32).

Solomon, 17, bruised his left knee after tumbling over the finish line but was feeling no pain after what was easily the biggest win of his career.

John Steffensen, the 2006 Commonwealth champion, trailed in last in 47.97 in his first race since serving a three-month suspension for abusing Athletics Australia officials.

Reigning IAAF male world athlete of the year David Rudisha of Kenya was a commanding winner of the men's 800m in 1:43.88.

Rudisha kicked off the best year of his life at Olympic Park 12 months ago, when he won the two-lap race in an Australian allcomers record of 1:43.15, before going on to twice break the world record during the European summer.

Lachlan Renshaw moved to ninth on the Australian all-time list after finishing third in 1:45.66.

Sally Pearson was untroubled in winning the 100m-200m double over American Miki Barber, but was frustrated with her times of 11.52 and 23.36.

Reigning world champion Dani Samuels won the women's discus with a throw of 61.00m.

John Salvado
AAP