London Diamond League: Wins for Georgia Hunter Bell, Charlie Dobson and Morgan Lake

There was perhaps no better reaction than that of Dobson, who appeared stunned after coming from seemingly nowhere with 100m remaining to beat world-class competition.

Olympic and world silver medallist Hudson-Smith crossed the line second in 44.27, ahead of South Africa’s Zakithi Nene, who has run the fastest time in the world this year with 43.76.

“I don’t know what happened,” Dobson told BBC Sport.

“I got to the last 100m and I felt great. I was catching everyone. I thought to myself, if I just dig really deep then I can get them – and I did!”

Having already clinched victory in the women’s high jump with her second-time clearance at 1.96m, Lake thrived under the gaze of the entire crowd and went close to breaking her British record with three solid attempts at 2m.

While Kerr could not deliver the record-breaking finale he hoped to, he will take lessons from his loss to Koech and has time on his side with two months until his world title defence in Tokyo.

“I should be winning those, so I am frustrated,” said Kerr.

“I really wanted to show up and win for this crowd but all I can promise to them now is in a few months’ time I will be battling for a gold medal for this country.

“I’ll bring it home and then everyone can see what we were working towards today.”

Former 200m world champion Asher-Smith overhauled Hunt as she crossed the line in 22.25 seconds, with the ever-improving Hunt clocking 22.31 to set a new personal best, beating her world under-18 record of 22.42 six years ago.

But Olympic 100m champion Alfred proved a class above, recording the joint-ninth fastest 200m of all time as she stormed to victory in 21.71.

Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke was fourth in 22.52, with Daryll Neita sixth in 22.69.