AFP/Marrakech, Morocco

Despite warm conditions but with an atmosphere deadened by a poorly-attended event, Bondarenko tried three times to clear 2.43m but failed on all attempts.

Moments earlier, Russia’s Ivan Ukhov, the Olympic champion, and Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim, who recently became the second-highest jumper of all time, had both ended their programme on 2.34m.

Elsewhere on the first day of a two-day event which replaced the Athletics World Cup and four years after its first edition in Croatia, the men’s 100m was won by Great Britain’s James Dasaolu (10.03sec).

The European champion edged out America’s Mike Rodgers and Qatari Femi Ogunode.

In the men’s 400m hurdles, European champion Kariem Hussein of Switzerland set a new personal best of 48.47sec behind winner, South Africa’s Cornel Fredericks (48.34).

LaShawn Merritt romped to victory in the 400 metres as the Americas opened the defence of the title they won four years ago.

The American clocked 44.60 seconds for victory while compatriot Francena McCorory took the women’s 400.

“It feels good to defend the Continental (Cup) title from four years ago,” said Merritt, the former Olympic and current world champion.

“I tried to execute the race the way I planned, to stay smooth, trust my speed and my strength. All the guys were very hungry for the victory.”

Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell-Brown, captaining the Americas, won the women’s 100.

“When you a captain of the team you feel big responsibility to be an example to the other athletes. I’m absolutely satisfied with my race today,” she said.

Fellow Jamaican Kaliese Spencer rounded off her superb season with a dazzling display to win the 400 hurdles, adding the Continental Cup title to the Commonwealth Games gold medal she won in Glasgow earlier this summer.

The Europeans also won the shot put on German two-time world champion David Storl’s best of 21.55 metres.

Africa enjoyed a solid opening day with victories in two of the day’s distance races. Kenya’s Isiah Kiplangat Koech won the men’s 5,000 while Ethiopia’s world indoor champion Genzebe Dibaba won the women’s 3,000.

Ayanleh Souleiman of Djibouti defeated Kenyan world champion Asbel Kiprop in the 1,500 and Cornel Fredericks won the 400 hurdles for more Africa victories.

Asia-Pacific’s only win of the day came from China’s Li Ling cleared 4.55 metres, the best women’s pole vault mark ever on African soil.

The Americas ended the day with victory in both the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays to move into second place behind Europe ahead of Sunday’s programme.

Europe finished the first day on top of the standings with 222.5 points after 20 events.

On 191 points, the Americas are second while Africa, on 164, are in third place.

Europe will now hope to stay top with world record holder in the polevault, Renaud Lavillenie of France expected to sweep to victory.