The second best 200-metre runner of all time, behind the incomparable Michael Johnson, Carter was edged out by one hundredth of a second as Kikaya finished in 45.25 seconds in a generally low-key meet.
Sweden's Olympic champion high jumper Stefan Holm did not disappoint as he won his discipline with a leap of 2.27 metres.
European 100-metre record-holder, the Nigerian-born Portuguese Francis Obikwelu, was due to compete in both the 100 metres and 200 metres but pulled out with a knee problem.In the women's events, Kenyan Faith Macharia recorded the best time in the world this year over 1,000 metres, finishing in two minutes 39.26 seconds.
Leading results:
MEN’S:
100 metres: 1. Craig Pickering (Britain) 10.22 seconds; 2. Mark Lewis-Francis (Britain) 10.37; 3. Tyrone Edgar (Britain) 10.43.
200 metres: Rodney Martin (US) 20.88 seconds; 2. Chris Lloyd (Dominica) 20.95; Marlon Devonish (Britain) 20.97.
400 metres: 1. Gary Kikaya (Congo) 45.25 seconds; 2. Xavier Carter (US) 45.26; 3. Michael Blackwood (Jamaica) 45.55.
800 metres: Manuel Olmedo (Spain) one minute 49.60 seconds; 2. James Brewer (Britain) 1:50.38; 3. Michael Coltherd (Britain) 1:50.41.
1500 metres: 1. Augustine Choge (Kenya) three minutes 36.92 seconds; 2. Rui Silva (Portugal) 3:37.04; 3. Andrew Baddeley (Britain) 3:37.14.
High jump: 1. Stefan Holm (Sweden) 2.27 metres; 2. Thomas Janku (Czech Republic) 2.20; 3. Germaine Mason (Britain) 2.15.
Triple jump: 1. Phillips Idowu (Britain) 17.14 metres; 2. Nathan Douglas (Britain) 17.12; 3. Leevan Sands (Bahamas) 16.68.
WOMEN’S:
100 metres: 1. Stephanie Durst (US) 11.43 seconds; 2. Cydonie Mothersill (Cayman Islands) 11.44; 3. Aleen Bailey (Jamaica) 11.46.
300 metres: 1. Nicola Sanders (Britain) 36.64 seconds; 2. Vicky Barr (Britain) 37.78; Emily Freeman (Britain) 38.04.
1000 metres: 1. Faith Macharia (Kenya) two minutes 39.26 seconds; 2. Jolanda Ceplak (Slovakia) 2:39.69; 3. Jenny Meadows (Britain) 2:39.84.
5000 metres: 1. Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) 14:44.93; 2. Meselech Melkamu (Ethiopia) 14:50.76; 3. Lucy Wangui (Kenya) 14:57.55.
400-metre hurdles: 1. Tiffany Williams (US) 55.64 seconds; 2. Tasha Danvers-Smith (Britain) 56.42; 2. Shevon Stoddart (Jamaica) 57.77.
Long jump: 1. Tatyana Kotova (Russia) 6.56 metres; Adina Anton (Romania) 6.34; 3. Grace Upshaw (US) 6.30.
Javelin: 1. Goldie Sayers (Britain) 63.59 metres; 2. Steffi Nerius 62.57; 3. Barbora Spotakova (Czech Republic) 62.26.
—Agencies