Jana Rawlinson made it back-to-back wins, Steve Hooker returned to the winners list and Craig Mottram and John Steffensen both won silver medals in an impressive night for the Australians at the British Grand Prix in Sheffield overnight.

In a much anticipated contest, Mottram was monstered by one of the best distance runners of all time, world and Olympic record holder Kenenisa Bekele, who produced a UK all-comers record and personal best in racing to victory over 3000m.

In a meet that promised a procession of world leading times, all of which bar Bekele’s effort were cruelled by solid rain, a blustery wind and an icy Sheffield wind, the results of the leading Australians continues to provide significant encouragement ahead of the world championships in Osaka in August.

At a venue just an hour from their UK home, Cornelis Rawlinson made his track debut, watching his mum Jana race to her fifth victory in six starts since returning to competition in May.

In an effort to replicate the heats, semi-finals and final scenarios she hopes to face in Osaka, Rawlinson raced to her second victory of the weekend.

After winning in Rome on Friday night, she travelled on Saturday before returning to the track on Sunday to win in 54.60.

Britain's Natasha Danvers-Smith was second (55.31), just as she was at last year’s Commonwealth Games, with Sandra Glover of the US third in 55.54.

“Cornelis watched me race for the first time. He came to the warm-up track and I fed him during the warm-up, so I was as relaxed as I’ve ever been for a race,” Rawlinson said.

“Although he fell asleep and missed the race.”

During the race Rawlinson continued to work on her stride pattern and was happier with the result.

“I hit the seventh hurdle quite hard, so I’ve got a nice bloody bruise, and the last hurdle wasn’t great but it was much better than it has been. It was one of my best runs this season.”

After a win in Athens and a third place finish in Lausanne on Thursday, world no.1 Steve Hooker claimed another win in conditions that forced a number of delays due to rain.

A clutch third attempt clearance at 5.65m handed the Commonwealth champion victory, his training partner and world no.2 Paul Burgess was fourth, missing second place on a countback after clearing 5.55m.

USA’s Tim Mack and Toby Stevenson field the podium spots at that height. 

In a race built as a re-match of their epic World Cup duel between Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele and Australia’s Craig Mottram in Athens last year, the men’s 3000m turned into a distance running masterclass. As soon as the pace maker concluded his duties with five laps remaining Bekele unleashed a 57 second circuit to break up the field.

Mottram attempted to go with him, but lasted only 40m. Bekele won in a UK all-comers record and personal best time of 7.26.69. Mottram was second in 7:35.00 with American Chris Solinsky third (7:36.90).

“He ran a great race,” Mottram said afterwards. “He surprised me a little when he took off as we were already going pretty quickly. I knew he would try and shake me with five or six hundred to go but I was stretched a little already when he made his move and there is not much you can do.”

“Obviously I’m disappointed, but we have another challenge in two weeks time in London (two miles) and I’m still really happy with where we are at.”

Commonwealth champion John Steffensen continued his return to form finishing second in the 400m in 45.64 seconds, behind American Angelo Taylor (45.25).

Steffensen, who is returning from a chronic hamstring complaint, plans to race in Madrid, London and Monaco over the next few weeks.

In other results, American Tyson Gay's hopes of speeding to a fast 100m were dashed by the weather. The US sprinter won in a time of 10.13, Patrick Johnson finished eighth (10.50). Johnson also finished eighth in the 200m in 21.05 behind USA’s Wallace Spearmon who just edged out Jamaican Usain Bolt, both with an impressive 20.08 given the conditions.

In the 1500m, Britain's Andy Baddeley caused an upset, winning in a personal best time of 3:34.74. Baddeley is in great form after finishing third in the Dream Mile in Oslo and he held off the 2004 Olympic bronze and silver medallists Rui Silva and Bernard Lagat.

Mark Fountain finished sixth in 3:37.94 – the fastest time by an Australian this year; Jeff Risely produced a personal best to finish ninth (3:38.56), as did Collis Birmingham in 11th (3:39.10).

In the long jump, John Thornell was fourth (7.82m) and Tim Parravicini seventh (7.41m) in an event won by American Brian Johnson with 7.99m.

Athletics Australia