Isinbaeva leads harvest day for host Russia at Moscow worlds

Isinbaeva ignited the crowds at Luzhniki stadium in the evening session while Russia's London Olympic champion Elena Lashmanova led a one-two finish in women's 20-kilometer walk to jazz up the local spectators in the morning.

Elena Lashmanova of Russia (front) crosses the finish line to win the women's 20 km race walk final ahead of teammate Anisya Kirdyapkina during the IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow, Aug 13, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

The 21-year-old Lashmanova, who set a world record when securing Olympic gold in London last summer, clocked one hour, 27 minutes and eight seconds to claim the title. Lashmanova has been enjoying a splendid 2013, as she clocked a season's best of 1:25: 49 to land the Russian title in Sochi and has secured IAAF Challenge victories in Rio Maior and Sesto San Giovanni.

Her countrywoman Anisya Kirdyapkina, gold medalist at the World University Games in Kazan last month, finished three seconds in arrears to take the silver.

The hosts could have enjoyed a podium sweep but Vera Sokolova, European Cup runner-up, received the third warning and was disqualified in the final kilometers when she was chasing the leading duo.

"I'm happy to win a gold medal in the capital of my home country. I am even happier that we've made it the Russian 1-2. It' s a pity that Sokolova was disqualified near the stadium in the end of the race. It could have been the three of us on the podium, " said Lashmanova.

"The judges did not really explain to us that should do one lap before the home straight and finish. That's why I stopped for a second at the stadium, but I quickly understood I should keep going," said Lashmanova, who believed she had crossed the "finish line" in a state of confusion when she still had another lap to cover.

Momentarily celebrating her success, she was then told to carry on a further lap of the Luzhniki Stadium but made the same mistake again on the top bend, allowing Kirdyapkina, bronze medalist in Daegu, to narrow the gap to only 3 seconds on the time sheets.

Russia's gold rush at IAAF worlds:

Race walker Ivanov claims first gold for Russia