"I didn't have confidence after a long break, didn't know my shape, but running 8:30 in my first race - I'm so happy," said the 32-year-old.
Six other 2016 bests were set in the meeting including New Zealander Nick Willis' 3:53.27 victory in the mile and 19-year-old Ethiopian Dawit Seyaum's 4:01.86 in the women's 1,500 metres.
American Kurt Roberts upped the 2016 shot put best to 21.57 metres and compatriot Natasha Hastings delivered another top mark in the women's 300 metres, 36.25 seconds.
World indoor record holder Jenn Suhr won the women's pole vault at 4.82 metres before unsuccessfully trying three times at the highest mark ever cleared by a woman indoors or out, 5.07 metres.
"My first attempt felt really good up the pole, but I just didn't have the legs for it today," said the American, whose two-week-old indoor record is 5.03m. Russian Yelena Isinbayeva's outdoor record is 5.06m.
World outdoor champion Shawn Barber of Canada was upset by American Sam Kendricks in the men's pole vault, Kendricks jumping 5.77m to Barber's 5.67m.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Larry Fine)
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