With the crowd roaring encouragement, Lagat left his challengers behind and kept on sprinting, crossing the line in 13 minutes 11.50 seconds and stealing the American record from Rupp (13:18.12). Gebremeskel finished second, with Daba third, and Rupp fourth at 13:14.21.

“It went well, it was an honest pace,’’ said Rupp, 24, in his first year of professional racing. “My plan was just to relax as much as possible and go when it was time to make my move. I went with 1,000 to go and, well, Bernard -- he’s still got it.’’

The leaders were on record pace from the start, but the pace slowed halfway though. The 35-year-old Lagat took the lead with a six-pack of contenders on his heels, but Rupp went to the front with five laps to go. He held on for three more laps before Lagat made his move.

Lagat said he normally doesn’t go to the lead. “It’s like different territory,’’ he said. “I have to give props to Galen because that is what he’s always done, taking the lead, until the end. I realize today it’s not an easy thing. As long as you’re comfortable in the front, you can do it. I got into a certain comfortable zone, while I was hearing splits from my coach.

“I was determined to push it hard. But it wasn’t hard enough until Galen came to push the last 1K. I think we dropped about four seconds from the last K so I think we did a good job.’’

Ethiopian star Tirunesh Dibaba did not get close to the world record in the women’s 5,000. The race began with only five runners, and when the rabbit dropped off and then Korene Hinds dropped out, Dibaba ran alone.

She crossed the line in 14:44.53, followed by Sally Kipyego in 14:52.67.

Confidence carried DeeDee Trotter through the women’s 400, even when her feet couldn’t keep up.

As the leaders rounded the first curve of the final lap, the 27-year-old American felt something knock her in the foot. She wobbled, raising her arms like wings to steady herself. The runners behind her shifted, too, and the whole group appeared to teeter in the air.

But Trotter, a lean 5 feet 10 inches, stretched out her long legs and launched herself around the curve and away from the pack. She held her lead, crossing the finish line to win in 53.08 seconds.

Trotter came to this meet in great shape and that was not the time she wanted - she was hoping to run something in the mid-51 range, she said. But after recovering from the brief stumble, the strategy changed.

“I just took off as fast as I could from that point,’’ Trotter said. “I’m very ready to run a really good time, but I was glad I was able to pull it together because it became just about reaching the finish line. ’’

Kineke Alexander was second in 53.54.

In the men’s 400, Bershawn “Batman’’ Jackson outsprinted Renny Quow on the final stretch to win in 46.86 and afterward, his confidence was bubbling over. Quow was second in 47.15.

“I wanted to get a good start to establish good position,’’ said Jackson, the bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympics in the 400 hurdles and gold medalist at the 2005 World Championships.

“We all got tangled up a little bit. I just wanted to establish ground and finish up strong.’’

Jackson was scarcely a step ahead of Quow as they rounded the final turn, but he said he was sure of himself.

“Very confident,’’ he said. “I have 5.7 60-meter speed. I knew I had the sprint to finish. He might have had speed, but I had the sprint and the strength.’’

Terrence Trammell, who won the silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles at both the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games ran a 7.49 to win the 60-meter high hurdles, setting a meet record. Trammell held the previous mark of 7.53.

“I felt pretty good,’’ he said. “I executed over the last half. I made a lot of mistakes in the middle and I’m going to work to correct that, but to not have my best race technically and win, I’m pleased.’’