The athletics meeting was almost cancelled after the attack on the Manchester Arena, where 22 people were killed by a suicide bomber, on Monday (May 22). 

The city-centre event was given the go-ahead, however, by Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Police on Tuesday (May 23) and action in 12 athletics events was today held as planned. 

Among those watching was International Association of Athletics Federations President Sebastian Coe.

"V imp athletics here contribute to the healing of a city," he wrote on Twitter.

"The athletes knew this was more than just another event."

"The main thing was to come out here and put on a show for the people of Manchester and have fun with them," Great Britain’s Richard Kilty was reported as saying by British tabloid newspaper The Sun after coming third in the men’s 150 metres race.

Dutch Paralympic sprinter Marlou van Rhijn, runner-up in the women’s T44 100m, added: "I am so impressed by the Manchester people who have come out and shown that love is more powerful than hate."

London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Greg Rutherford won the men’s long jump with a huge leap of 8.18 metres in his first competitive appearance of 2017.

His event was held in Albert Square, where thousands of people attended a vigil on Tuesday evening for those who died.

V imp athletics here to contribute to the healing of a city. The athletes knew this was more than just another event. pic.twitter.com/SQAQtD6k0U

— Seb Coe (@sebcoe) May 26, 2017

"After such a tragic and heinous event, I think it's important that everybody comes together and shows it's not going to stop people leading a normal life," Rutherford told BBC Sport.

"That seems to be the overriding sense from everybody here."

Two-time Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock, winner of the men’s T44 100m event in 10.91sec today, praised the way Manchester had reacted to the bombing.

"I was so proud to see how Manchester responded, how people have come together, how there doesn't seem to be any hate, how everyone seems to have love for each other," he told BBC Sport.

"That is the most important thing we need to do at times like this.

"Events like this give us a chance to cheer and to emote and have feelings.

"I think they give us the chance to show we can get up, stand up and continue as normal."

Among the other winners today was Britain’s Asha Philip, who held off Australia’s Sally Pearson to win the women’s 100m in 11.48.

Eight men, aged between 18 and 38, are in custody on suspicion of terror offences, in connection with the attack.

Salman Abedi, 22, denoted an explosive device at the Manchester Arena, killing 22 men, women and children, as people left a concert by American singer Ariana Grande.

A total of 10 people have been arrested in the United Kingdom, including Abedi's 24-year-old brother Ismail.

Two of those, a 16-year-old boy and a 34-year-old woman, were released without charge.

As things stand, 66 people are still in hospital, with 23 in critical care.

It was also announced on Tuesday that the attack will not affect the Great Manchester Run, which includes a half marathon and a 10 kilometres race.

The event is due to take place on Sunday (May 28).