Benjamin recorded an impressive time in wet conditions

Coming into the final turn, Benjamin was a stride-and-a-half down but made up the ground, only for Francique to burst clear and win in 46.29 seconds.

Benjamin came second in 46.57secs, comfortably ahead of American Elison Hurtauld in third.

Fellow Brit Tim Abeyie went one better by winning the 200m in 20.67secs.

Running the 400m with Tim Benjamin

Abeyie, who is now training with Colin Jackson's former coach Malcolm Arnold, held his nerve in the closing stages to hold off Jamaican Christopher Williams (20.69) and Australian Patrick Johnson (20.78).

Jason Gardener started well before fading to third in the 100m, his second run in 48 hours after competing in Athens on Monday.

The European Indoor 60m champion clocked 10.34, behind European bronze medallist Matic Osovnikar (10.19) and American Greg Bolden (10.29).

Another Briton, Ryan Scott, who also ran in Athens, finished fifth in 10.44 in conditions which offered no favours to the sprinters.

Jemma Simpson was fourth in a high-quality women's 800m, clocking a time of two minutes 02.32seconds.