ATHLETICS/World Championships:After nine days of mostly great athletics in the always searing heat there is no denying the enduring superpower of the sport. The USA leave here with a record-equalling 14 gold medals, even if one of them - in the men's 5,000 metres - didn't come as the shock result it would normally be

In fact there were no great shocks in the closing session, the Americans comfortably winning both 1,600-metre relays. The only surprise was Kenya ending up next best with five gold medals, their best ever, and they could also claim a share in that 5,000-metre gold, not to mention the 1,500-metre gold - both went to the former Kenyan Bernard Lagat now running for the US.

In what turned out to be the slowest winning time in world championship history, Lagat added to his 1,500-metre title of last Wednesday with practically identical tactics. The early pace was painfully slow, and that played into Lagat's hands as he simply waited until the final 150 metres before delivering his devastating kick.

His time of 13:45.87 was shockingly slow - he probably ran quicker to school - but it was all Lagat needed to secure the first 1,500-5,000m double in world championship history.

Kenya took silver, with Eliud Kipchoge just a stride behind in 13:46.75. Incredibly, both men were born and raised in the same Kenyan village of Kaplet. Lagat, however, is now all stars and stripes, and after nearly 10 years in the US has acquired the accent.

"This double means a lot to me," said the 32-year-old. "I was inspired by Hicham El Guerrouj (the Moroccan who achieved a similar feat in the Athens Olympics). He is a wonderful man and friend.

"I was surprised that the pace was so slow, but it was good for me. Everybody waited until the last lap. I was waiting until the last 100 metres and I think I ran the smartest race."

His 52.8-second last lap showed all the qualities of a 1,500-metre specialist, and by then Australia's hopes of a medal were gone, Craig Mottram fading to a disappointing 13th.

The US nearly took bronze as well but Matt Tegenkamp just could not reel in Uganda's Moses Kipsiro.

Osaka saved some of the best races and biggest crowds until last. Kenya didn't have to wait long for the perfect consolation for losing the 5,000-metre gold, as the 20-year-old Alfred Kirwa Yego produced a stunning finish to win the men's 800 metres.

In another slow and tactical race, Yego chased down Canada's Gary Reed, squeezing past just as they hit the line to win in 1:47.09, Reed clocking 1:47.10. It was that close.

The Olympic champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy, the man they call the Russian tank, moved from seventh to third in the home stretch, finishing out in lane four such was the frenzy of the sprint.

Earlier in the day, Kenya also won the women's marathon when Catherine Ndereba handled the strong field and intense heat to win in 2:30:37, regaining the title she lost to Paula Radcliffe in Helsinki two years ago.

The biggest cheer was reserved for Reiko Tosa, who moved from fourth to third inside the last two miles and thus won Japan their first medal of these championships.

With eight runners in contention entering the last three miles it was clear the heat was taking a toll. Ndereba's time was again the slowest in world championship history and also, as she suggested, surely the most difficult.

"Today, if I had been able to run naked I would have," said the 35-year-old. "This marathon was one of the hardest in my running career; the weather was such a challenge."

Reko wore a tortured grimace practically throughout, arms swinging from side to side, but in saving Japan the embarrassment of not winning a medal she is now guaranteed the status of national heroine.

China's Chunxiu Zhou took silver in 2:30:45, and looks an early bet for gold in the Beijing Olympics.

For some people, the slower times across many events are a good sign, indicating improved drug testing is finally scaring off the cheats. No positive tests had been reported by close of championship business - just one reportedly "suspicious" test - and with no world records either over the nine days there is clearly some levelling off in performances.

There was still one real threat to a world record last night when Croatia's Blanka Vlasic cleared 2.05 metres with some ease to claim high-jump gold and went on to attempt a world record at 2.10, which would have bettered the 2.09 that has stood to Stefka Kostadinova since 1987.

Vlasic couldn't manage it this time, but given she is only 23 her time will surely come, and in the meantime she secured a first ever medal for Croatia.

That medal encapsulated the truly global feel to these championships, with a record 46 nations winning medals, a long way from the 25 nations of the inaugural championships in 1983. Among them last night was Bahrain, who won gold in the women's 1,500 metres thanks to Maryam Yusuf Jamal, the former Ethiopian, who managed to survive the all-out front-running of Russia's Yelena Soboleva and get past in the final 100 metres, winning in 3:58.75.

Finland also claimed their only medal of these championships last night when Tero Pitkamaki threw a massive 90.33 metres to win javelin gold, beating his arch-rival Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway. Again the US had a say, Breaux Greer taking bronze.

Irish interest at these championships - which had been so rewarding - ended on a disappointing note on Saturday morning when both Colin Griffin and Jamie Costin failed to finish the 50-kilometre walk.

Griffin was disqualified after just 17 kilometres. Costin lasted until 43 kilometres before succumbing to leg cramp in brutally tough conditions.

No medals for the Irish then but still a memorable championships. And so as we leave Osaka today, the countdown to Beijing officially starts now.