Craig Mottram has completed his World Championships preparations on a winning note, cruising to a commanding victory over two miles at the London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace.

Mottram headlined a 13-strong Australian contingent in London, with Sarah Jamieson setting a new personal best to finish third in the 3000m and John Steffensen just missing a podium spot for the first time in five faces - finishing fourth in the 400m.

A blustery wind and a lack of competition scuppered Mottram’s attempt on breaking his personal best and the eight minute mark for two miles.

Mottram, 27, took the lead with one mile remaining and was never troubled as he cantered to the line in 8.11.16. Britain’s Mo Farah was second in a new personal best of 8.20.47 with Kenyan John Kibown third in 8.21.34. Collis Birmingham was 11th in 8.40.37.

The conditions ensured that any attempt on his Australian and Oceania-record breaking performance of 8.03.50, set at the Prefontaine Classic in June, was never a possibility.

"It wasn’t as quick as we would have liked," a circumspect Mottram said after the race. "I was on my own for the last four laps. In fact, it’s the first time in any race in Europe that I’ve been on my own after the pacemaker’s pull-out – I was 50m clear and it was hard to push on by myself."

Mottram said that he was not completely satisfied with the run, although coach Nic Bideau had a different view.

"I’m not super happy, Nic’s happy though. It was solid but not spectacular and it’s my first win at Crystal Palace after a couple of sensational races that didn’t get me a win here.

"Now I just have to stay cool," Mottram said of the 27-day break to the heats of the 5000m at the World Championships in Osaka.

"I just need to keep doing the same things. Stay fit and strong and get ready. It’s going to be a bit strange with no-one racing for the next month."

Mottram now remains at his London base before moving to Chiba, Japan, on August 23 to finalise his preparations. The 5000m heat at the World Championships is on Thursday, August 30 with the final on Saturday, September 2.

Sarah Jamieson took the opportunity to build on her strength ahead of the 1500m in Osaka by racing to a new personal best over 3000m.

After placing in the top six in all four of her 1500m races in Europe this season, Jamieson looked capable of claiming victory in London as she was with the leaders with 250m remaining before American Lauren Fleshman, who raced here during the Australian domestic season, edged away to win in 8.43.41.

Britain’s Jo Pavey was second in 8.44.13 with Jamieson third with 8.48.41.

Jamieson’s time sliced just over a second from her previous best of 8.49.46, set in Madrid in 2004, and moves her up one place on the Australian all-time list to No. 3 behind Benita Johnson and Eloise Wellings.

Still on the catch-up after missing some training due to a chest infection, Jamieson told AAP after the race, "it was a personal best but it's not a distance that's run very often so it's a bit of a cheap PB.

"I was hoping to run probably eight to 10 seconds quicker, so a bit disappointing. In the end, I just decided to try and run for the win but the other girls were too strong."

John Steffensen missed the podium in the 400m for the first time in five races in finishing fourth in 45.22.

World and Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner fought off a strong challenge from his US team-mate LaShawn Merritt to win in 44.05. Merritt clocked 44.23 with Swede John Wissman justifying his move to the one-lap event, finishing third in a national record of 45.03.

In other Australian results Josh Ross finished seventh in his heat of the 100m in 10.44 (-0.6) and the Australian men’s relay team of Matt Shirvington, Patrick Johnson, Adam Miller and Ross finished fifth in 39.20.

National champion Mark Fountain finished fifth in the 1500 in 3.37.42, with Queenslander Mitch Kealey eighth (3.40.31). American Bernard Lagat was the winner in 3.35.71.

National 110m hurdles champion Justin Merlino had his first taste of big-time European athletics, finishing eighth in 14.10 (-0.8). American Ryan Wilson was the winner in 13.27.

Long jumper Tim Parravicini finished seventh with a best of 7.53m, behind British winner Chris Tomlinson who leapt an excellent 8.16m in the cool conditions.

The action now moves to the final major European event before the World Championships with the IAAF World Tour meeting in Stockholm on Tuesday.

Eloise Wellings, Jeff Riseley, Collis Birmingham and Jarrod Bannister are all set to compete.