London : American Bernard Lagat spoiled double European champion Mo Farah's homecoming with victory in the 3,000 metres at the London Diamond League meeting at Crystal Palace on Friday.
Former world champion Tyson Gay won his 100 metres heat after a slow start, clocking 10.02 seconds into a slight headwind on a cold, damp evening in south London.
Friday final
Gay, who beat world record holder Usain Bolt in Stockholm last week, will compete against fellow American Walter Dix in the final later on Friday. Jamaica's Asafa Powell, who has the fastest time of the year, pulled out of the race on Thursday due to injury.
Lagat, former world champion over 1,500 and 5,000 metres, pulled away from Briton Farah and Australian Collis Birmingham on the final bend to ease to victory in seven minutes 40.36 seconds.
Farah, who won the European 5,000 and 10,000 titles last month, was roared on by a capacity crowd desperate to see him win but for once he had to settle for second in 7:40.75.
"My plan was just to hang back a little bit because I knew I hadn't raced in three weeks," said the 35-year-old Lagat.
Good feeling
"I wanted to see how I felt, and I felt good. Mo is a great athlete and I knew he was running strongly and I'm glad I was able to run with him really well today."
Olympic bronze medallist Bershawn Jackson had to battle to the line to hold off fast-finishing Javier Culson of Puerto Rico for victory in the 400 hurdles in 48.12 seconds.
Briton third
European champion David Greene of Britain was third.
Nadezhda Ostapchuk of Belarus maintained her dominance over Olympic and world champion Valerie Adams-Vili in the shot put this season with a best effort of 20.27.
Adams-Vili of New Zealand was second after clocking a time of 19.83.
