Pavey is hoping to be back to her best at the Commonwealths

Meryem Alaoui Selsouli and Yelena Sidorchenkova beat Pavey, who clocked eight minutes 45.56 seconds in her first race since last summer's Worlds.

Joyce Maduaka was third in the 60m and fourth in the 200m, but there was a double triumph in the men's sprints.

Mark Findley won the 60m in 6.62 secs, and Tim Abeyie the 200m in 21.17 secs.

Both are in the Great Britain team for the World Indoor Championships in Moscow from 10-12 March.

Abeyie, who is coached by former Olympic 100m gold medallist Linford Christie, said: "I'm not too happy with the time."

This was my first competition since Helsinki and recovering from a long-term virus - so I'm happy Jo Pavey

He had hoped to improve on the 20.86secs personal best he achieved in last Saturday's Norwich Union Grand Prix in Birmingham.

"But it does show I've got strength and speed," he added, "and I'm looking forward to the World Indoors."

Pavey, planning to fly to Melbourne on Tuesday to prepare for the Commonwealth Games, was satisfied with her performance.

She led for the first two kilometres, before Morocco's Selsouli took over on her way to victory in eight minutes 41.67secs. Russia's Sidorchenkova clocked 8:41.67 in second.

"I have to be realistic. This was my first competition since Helsinki and recovering from a long-term virus - so I'm happy with the time," said Pavey.

"Normally that's around what I would be running in my first race of the indoor season," added the Commonwealth 5,000m hopeful.

But British number one Nathan Douglas, who is also Moscow-bound, had a day to forget in the triple jump as he finished fifth with 16.51 metres.

The most high profile athlete competing at the meeting was former Olympic and world 800m champion Maria Mutola.

She was edged into second place in the 800m, coming in 0.06 secs behind Svetlana Cherkasova in a sprint finish.