NEW YORK, Feb 3: Bernard Lagat eked out a dramatic victory over Craig Mottram in the Wanamaker Mile and 40-year-old Gail Devers ran the year's fastest 60 metres hurdles at the 100th Millrose Games on Friday.

The Kenyan-born Lagat blew past Australian Mottram on the final turn to win in 3:54.26, the year's fast time, to thunderous applause from the 14,905 fans at Madison Square Garden. The victory was the American's fifth career Wanamaker win.

Mottram, the two-time Olympic medallist, was second in an Australian record 3:54.81.

Devers, who has competed sparingly in recent years, ran 7.86 seconds to best a strong field including 2004 Olympic gold medallist Joanna Hayes and fellow American Danielle Carruthers, whom she coaches.

Devers turned back the clock with her electrifying victory. Her time was just 0.12 seconds off her US record, set in 2003.

The six-time Millrose champion said she had no definite plans to continuing racing competitively, but would do so if the money was right.

Maurice Greene's return was not as successful. The heavily muscled 2000 Olympic gold medallist, who has been inactive since April 2006 because of a nagging foot injury, tripped and fell in the men's 60 meter dash and finished last in a time of 27.70.

American Shawn Crawford, the 2004 Olympic 200 metres gold medallist, won the race in 6.56 seconds.

Russian world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva made her North American debut an impressive one, clearing a 2007-leading 4.82 metres, the best women's pole vault ever on US soil. She missed three times at a world record 4.92 metres.

American Brad Walker outduelled top-ranked Australian Steve Hooker in the men's pole vault. Both cleared 5.80 metres, but Walker made on his first attempt and Hooker his second.

Ethiopian 5,000 metres world record holder Tirunesh Dibaba won the women's 3,000 in 8:46.58, and American Christian Cantwell took the shot put with a world-leading effort of 21.88 metres.

Results:

MEN’S:60 metres: 1. Shawn Crawford (US) 6.56 seconds; 2. Larone Clarke (Jamaica) 6.64, 3. Trell Kimmons (US) 6.65.

800 metres: 1. Sherridan Kirk (Trinidad) 1:53.01; 2. David Krummenacker (US) 1:53.23, 3. Justus Koech (Kenya) 1:53.69.

Mile: 1. Bernard Lagat (US) 3:54.26; 2. Craig Mottram (Australia) 3:54.81; 3. Chris Lukezic (US) 4:01.48.

60-metre hurdles: 1. Aries Merritt (US) 7.61; 2. Joel Brown (US) 7.69; 3. David Payne (US) 7.69.

Shot put: 1. Christian Cantwell (US) 21.88 metres; 2. Reese Hoffa (US) 21.75; 3. Dan Taylor (US) 21.12.

Pole vault: 1. Brad Walker (US) 5.80 metres; 2. Steven Hooker (Australia) 5.80; 3. Jeff Hartwig (US) 5.70.

600 metres: 1. Bershawn Jackson (US) 1:11.48; 2. Renny Quow (Trinidad) 1:14.02; 3. Pete Coley (Jamaica) 1:14.05.

WOMEN’S:

60 metres: 1. Angela Daigle-Bowen (US) 7.25 seconds; 2. Marshevet Hooker (US) 7.32, 3. Sheri-Ann Brooks (Jamaica) 7.35.

400 metres: 1. Mary Wineberg (US) 54.44 2. Hazel Ann Regis (Greneda) 55.08; 3. Ronetta Smith (Jamaica) 55.31.

800 metres: 1. Christin Wurth-Thomas (US) 2:06.97; 2. Frances Santin (US) 2:07.53; 3. Rebecca Johnstone (Canada) 2:07.58.

3000 metres: 1. Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia) 8:46.58; 2. Sarah Hall (US) 9:01.22; 3. Jen Rhines (US) 9:02.91.

60-metre hurdles: 1. Gail Devers (US) 7.86; 2. Joanna Hayes (US) 7.91; 3. Danielle Carruthers (US) 7.94.

Pole vault: 1. Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia) 4.82 metres; 2. April Steiner (US), Fabiana Murer (Brazil); Jenn Stuczynski (US) 4.53.—Agencies