Mixed fotunes for Olympic champions at Diamond League meeting in London

It was a day of mixed fortunes for the reigning Olympic champions on the second day's competition of the IAAF Diamond League meeting in London on Saturday.

Renaud Lavillenie, the Olympic champion and world record holder, broke his own stadium and meeting record by clearing 6.03 meters in the men's pole vault event.

In an event postponed from Friday night due to rain, the Frenchman sailed over 5.73m, took the lead at 5.87m, and then negotiated 5.93m and 6.03m all in his first attempts improved his own mark by one centimeter.

Canada's Shawn Barber finished second with 5.93m, failing at 6.03m three times.

Lavillenie broke Ukraine legend Sergey Bubka's 21-year-old world record of 6.15m early last year with 6.16m, failed three times trying a world lead of 6.10m.

He said after the win, "I'm very happy to be able to jump today instead of yesterday, today was perfect conditions for us.

"Now I have to stay focused and go back and train for Beijing. Jumping six meters is always a good performance and to be able to do it again in London, for me is really important. It's good that I was able to clear at the first height is important, it's what I want for the World Championships."

Local hero Greg Rutherford, who took his "super Saturday" Olympic triumph three years ago, suffered a surprise defeat in the men's long jump, fouling his first three attempts before landing his best at 8.18m in round four.

He finished third behind American Marquis Dendy and Zarck Visser of South Africa. Dendy won the title in a last round effort of 8.38m.

"It was very frustrating again," Rutherford said. "If I could have got one in the first three (jumps) I think I could have won the competition again but that's what happens in the long jump, if you don't get your run up correct you can end up finishing third like today so I'm really disappointed."

New Zealand's Valerie Adams, a twice Olympic gold winner and four-time world champion, suffered her second IAAF Diamond League defeat in as many meetings when she was beaten by Michelle Carter of the United States in the women's shot put.

Adams hit 18.59m in round two, followed by four fouls. Carter went beyond 19 meters on all but one of her six attempts and won the event with 19.74m.

Adams, who has been plagued with elbow injuries, said, "It's been a rocky road (to come back from injury). I have to be patient, my big aim is Rio (2016 Olympics), so I had to get myself sorted in time."

"I've been dominant for five years and recently it has been unknown territory, but I'm human, my body has had a tough beating. I'm looking forward to next year and getting back to 20 meters."

Another 2012 Olympic champion was also defeated in the women's javelin when Czech Barbora Spotakova was beaten by Latvia's Madara Palameika, who threw 65.01m, by one centimeter.

Nijel Amos of Botzwana outsprinted world record holder and Olympic champion David Rudisha by a tenth of a second in the 800m.

After claiming the silver medal behind Rudisha three years ago here, Amos has beaten the Kenyan in six out of seven races.

"All I wanted was the win, and I got it, so I'm happy," Amos said. "I was confident and, with my speed, I knew with the last 100 I could take it."

Jamaican American Sanya Richards-Ross, the Olympic 400m champion, finished sixth in the wmen's 200m and was ahead of Englishwoman Jessica Ennis-Hill, the Olympic heptathlon champion, who finished eighth with a season-best 23.49. Endi