The United States are in pole position to win the first Athletics World Cup after the opening day of competition.

France and Poland complete the top three at the new event on Saturday at the London Stadium.

Great Britain sit fifth, with Lorraine Ugen winning the long jump and Holly Bradshaw claiming the pole vault crown in the hosts’ only victories.

The eight teams each have one representative in each event, a final shootout, with points earned counting to the final total as they compete for a £1.5million prize pot.

Skipper Ugen, one of the few big names from GB competing, said: “It’s up to people if they want to compete but I had fun and will definitely come back. If they have other competitions which clash you can understand but I had fun.

“We’re doing alright, there are a lot of people who are new to competing for GB and they are catching their bearings.

“We have done alright and hopefully we can score more points.”

Athletics World Cup – Day One – Queen Elizabeth Stadium
Great Britain’s Andrew Pozzi looks dejected after failing to finish the 110m hurdles (Mark Kerton/PA)

Andrew Pozzi – another star name – failed to finish in the 110m hurdles after clattering hurdle three.

It continued the world and European 60m hurdle champion’s disappointing form ahead of next month’s European Championships in Berlin.

Sophie Hitchon earned seven points by coming second in the hammer with 73.48m as Poland’s Olympic champion Anita Wlodarczyk took victory with 78.74m.

Bradshaw won the pole vault in 4.75m – a season’s best – and Meghan Beesley was second in the 400m hurdles in 55.90 seconds.

Athletics World Cup – Day One – Queen Elizabeth Stadium
Holly Bradshaw won the women’s pole vault (Paul Harding/PA)

Bradshaw said: “It’s a different event, it takes me back to my roots when I used to compete for Blackburn Harriers when you used to collect points.

“I kind of wanted to go over 1.82m which would have been a British record. But for me at the minute I am building nicely towards the European Championships.”

Scott Lincoln was seventh in the shot put, Anyika Onuora, who won bronze in the 4x400m at Rio 2016, came fourth in the 400m.

Elliot Giles was third in the 800m, Bianca Williams fourth in the 100m, while the GB women were fifth in the 4x400m with the men last in the 4x100m.

Sunday’s evening session will see the men’s 100m final with GB’s Ojie Edoburun competing, the men’s 400m hurdles with Dai Greene and Adelle Tracey in the 800m final.

The nation who has the most points at the end of the two sessions will win the trophy and the biggest slice of the prize money – £342,000.

The eighth-placed team will bank just over £76,000 with the winnings split evenly between the squad.