Kenya finished 10th in the standings, humbled in comparison with African rival Ethiopia, which was third with three golds and nine overall.
The Russians were second with six golds and 20 overall, compared to the 25 overall of the US.
men's 5,000m
Benjamin Limo came to the world athletics championships looking for a gold medal.
He got it, and found a name for his newborn -- "Helsinki."
Limo sprinted away from the leading pack with half a lap to go Sunday and secured his first major victory in the men's 5,000m race in 13 minutes, 32.55 seconds.
"I'm very proud of this gold medal," Limo said. "My son was born on Monday, and it is obvious that I will name him `Helsinki.'"
Sileshi Sihine of Ethiopia was second in 13:32.81, followed by Craig Mottram of Australia in 13:32.96.
It was Kenya's first gold medal of these championships. The African nation also won two silvers and four bronze medals.
"We just wanted to win a medal for Kenya, and hopefully a gold one," Limo said. "The plans went very well, although I did not expect to win today. All I need now is to win a medal also in the Olympics."
Sihine said he thought the race would have been different if the Olympic silver medalist in the 5,000m race, Kenenisa Bekele, had competed. Bekele won the men's 10,000m title last week but passed on the chance at the double.
"I did expect the Kenyans to be strong, but I did not think Limo will win," Sihine said.
For Mottram, a lifeguard from Melbourne, Australia, it was his first podium finish in the 5,000m at a major competition.
African runners, mostly from Kenya and Ethiopia, have dominated the sport in recent years and had posted eight of the top 10 times coming into the race.
But Mottram said he expected non-African runners to begin challenging their dominance.
"I don't think this race is any special message," he said. "I think the whole season's been a big message to a lot of people around the world and a lot of African runners and a lot of European runners that it can be done."
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