Caster Semenya started the Diamond League season in fine form in Doha on Friday, winning the women's 1,500m race in a time of 3:59.92, a personal best and fastest time so far in 2018.
South Africa's golden girl, who is the focus of a recent controversial IAAF ruling about testosterone levels in women, started the race with her usual, measured approach, remaining in the middle of the pack for the first half of the race, before accelerating in the later stages.
In the final 200m, the rest of the field in the Hamad Bin Suhaim Stadium had no answer to the World and Olympic 800m champion's kick, and she finished more than a second in front of her rivals.
In second place was Kenya's Nelly Jepkosgei (4:00.99), while Ethiopian Habitam Alemu (4:01.41) was third.
Botswana's Isaac Makwala (44.92) had to settle for third place in the men's 400m after Bahamian Steven Gardiner won in a blistering 43.89.
Local favourite Abdalleleh Haroun (44.50) finished second with Makwala a distant third. Fellow Botswanan Baboloki Thebe (45.58) was fifth.
World Championship silver medalist Marie-Josée Ta Lou (10.85) ran a personal best in the women's 100m, as the Ivorian finished just ahead of Nigeria's Blessing Okagbare (10.90) and Olympic champion Elaine Thompson (10.96).
Another Ivorian, Murlielle Ahoure was fourth (10.96) and South Africa's Carina Horn set a new national record of 10.98, which was good enough for fifth. Meanwhile, two-time world champion Dafne Schippers (11.03) could only finish in sixth.
Ethiopia's Chala Beyo was a comfortable winner in the men's 3,000m steeplechase, crossing the finish line in a time of 8:13.57 to finish ahead of the Kenyan trio of Lawrence Kipsang (8:15.07), Emmanuel Kiprono (8:16.24) and Barnabas Kipyego (8:17.30). Another Ethiopian, Tefae Deriba (8:17.51) rounded out the top five.
In another event dominated by the Ethiopian and Kenyan contingent, Taresa Tolosa win the men's 1,500m in 3:35.07, just ahead of George Manangoi (3:35.53) and Justus Soget (3:35.71), followed by Charles Simitwo (3:36.40 and Bethwell Birgen (3:36.54).
The Kenyans also dominated the men's 800m, with athletes from the East African country claiming four of the top five places. Emmanuel Korir was the fastest on the night, winning a relatively slow time of 1:45.21. followed by Elijah Manangoi (1:45.60) and Nicholas Kipkoech (1:46.51). Poland Adam Kszczot (1:46.70) was the odd one out in fourth place, while Ferguson Rotich (1:46.76) was fifth.
Kenyan athletes continued their night to remember in Doha in the women's 3,000m, where a photo finish was required to split Caroline Kipkirui (8:29.05) and Agnes Tirop (8:29.09), with Hyvin Kiyeng (8:30.51) claiming the final spot on the podium.
Meanwhile, Olympic silver medalist Julius Yego (80.75m) was eighth in the men's javelin, while South African duo of Khotso Mokoena (16.92m) and Cornel Fredericks (50.03) finished sixth in the men's triple jump and men's 400m hurdles, respectively.