Such was the competitiveness of the two-lap race at the Sportpark Mladost that Bryce Hoppel of the United States, fourth in last year’s World Championship final in Doha, could not break into a top three of British runners.

Rowden, 23, who earned his title at Manchester on September 5 ahead of Commonwealth and European 1500m bronze medallist Jake Wightman, was followed home by Elliott Giles, who clocked 1:44.75.

Wightman, who won the 800m in Ostrava last week in 1:44.18, was timed at 1:44.85, with Hoppel clocking 1:44.95.

Rowden thus moved to equal ninth on the all-time British list, sharing his spot with Britain’s 1980 Olympic champion and multiple world record breaker Steve Ovett.

After his national championships win he told British Athletics: "I'm very happy after a difficult year with surgery in April 2019 so it's been a tough road back.

"It sorted me out but it took a while to get back going again."

Perkovic, winner of the last two Olympic titles, salvaged world bronze from an injury-ravaged season last year and maintained her standards in what was her first competition since winning the Croatian Winter Throwing Championships with an effort of 65.93m on March 7.

Melina Robert-Michon, the Rio 2016 silver medallist, was second with 60.65m.

Slovenia’s Luka Janezic won the 400 metres in 45.93sec from Britain’s Rabah Yousif, who clocked 45.99.

Meanwhile, at the Swiss venue of Bellinzona, South Africa’s Olympic 400m champion and world record holder Wayde Van Niekerk, in his first race in Europe since recovering from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in October 2017, won in 45.58sec.

World discus champion Daniel Stahl returned to the gold standard in style after seeing his run of 15 consecutive victories ended in Berlin on Sunday by the 2017 world champion Andrius Gudzius.

The mighty Swede looked mightily pleased after winning with a meeting record of 68.87 metres.

Sweden’s Khaddi Sagnia equalled her personal best mark of 6.83 metres, set earlier this season and placing her fourth in the 2020 world lists, to win the women’s long jump from Romania’s Alina Rotaru, who reached 6.47m.

Wilhelm Belocian of France held off the challenge of Freddie Crittenden of the United States in the 110 metres hurdles to win in a time of 13.32sec compare to his rival's 13.34.

In the 100 metres hurdles, Payton Chadwick of the United States won in 13.01sec from Britain’s Cindy Ofili, who clocked 13.10.

A clearance of 1.93 metres was enough to earn Ukraine’s Yulia Levchenko, world silver medallist and one of two women to achieve 2.00m this season, victory in the women’s high jump, with Erika Kinsey of Sweden and Nicola McDermott of Australia second and third respectively after reaching 1.90m.

Australia’s Stewart McSweyn won the 1500 metres in 3min 32.17sec, ahead of Britain’s James West, whose 3:34.56 was a personal best, as was the 3:34.83 of third-placed Matthew Ramsden, McSweyn’s compatriot.