Beijing: Ethiopian favourite Genzebe Dibaba stormed to the women’s world 1500m title as she stamped her authority with a sumptuous display of controlled running at the World Championships on Tuesday.

The world recordholder strolled through a pedestrian first lap before taking the front, tracked by Kenyan Faith Kipyegon and Dawit Seyaum, also of Ethiopia. But a second kick 200m from the line saw Dibaba stretch away to win in 4min 08.09sec, Kipyegon taking silver in 4:09.96 and fast-finishing Ethiopian-born Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan third in 4:09.34.

Dibaba last month ran 3:50.07 to shatter the world 1500m record set in 1993 by China’s Yunxia Qu, who competed under the guidance of controversial coach Ma Junren. She also holds the world records for the indoor 1500, 3000 and 5000m events, continuing a family tradition that includes elder sister Tirunesh holding the world record in the outdoor 5000m.

Nicholas Bett of Kenya ran the fastest time this year to win the 400-metre hurdles title in 47.79 seconds. Bett, who had never broken 49 seconds at sea level before heading to China, now has a national record after his run in the outside lane at the Bird’s Nest.

Denis Kudryavtsev earned silver in a Russian record 48.05 and Jeffrey Gibson took bronze in a Bahamas record 48.17.

Olympic champion Greg Rutherford won his first Worlds title in the long jump with his season-best leap of 8.41 metres. The 28-year-old Rutherford set the winning mark on his fourth jump and passed on his last two attempts.

Former world indoor champion Fabrice Lapierre of Australia overtook two Chinese jumpers with his fifth attempt and took silver with a mark of 8.24. Wang Jianan took bronze at 8.18, with Chinese teammates Gao Xinglong and Li Jinzhe placing fourth and fifth.

America contender Jeff Henderson had the season-leading mark of 8.52 heading to China, but finished ninth with a best mark of 7.95.

Denia Caballero of Cuba won the discus title with her first throw, giving her a rare victory over defending Olympic and world champion Sandra Perkovic. Caballero, the Pan-American Games champion, won with a mark of 69.28 metres. The Cuban had the season-leading throw of 70.65 metres heading into the championships and was the most consistent in Tuesday’s final.

Perkovic, the Diamond League winner in 2012, ᾽13 and ᾽14, moved from fourth place into the silver medal position with a final throw of 67.39.

The 25-year-old Croatian had lost only five times in 46 competitions across the previous four years.

Nadine Muller of Germany, the 2011 world championship silver medallist, finished third at 65.53.