The 7th edition of the IAAF World Junior Championships took place 19. through 25. July in Moncton, Canada.

Dennis Chepkongin Masai of Kenya got the Golazo athletes off on the best of notes, as he on the second day of competition secured the junior world title in the 10000m with a personal best of 27:53.88, this season's top junior time in the world.  Golazo teammate Paul Kipchumba Lonyangata also reached the podium in the 10000m, finishing 3rd in 28:14.55, a personal best.

After winning her opening heat of the 3000m steeplechase (9:52.77), Purity Cherotich (Kirui) of Kenya captured the event's gold medal while running a personal best time of 9:36.34 in the final.  The time is just 0.24 seconds short of being the fastest junior time in the world this season.

Already established on the international senior scene with victories this season at 3000m in Belem and Guadeloupe (7:40.70 personal best), David Kiprotich Bett won the 5000m event in Moncton in 13:23.76, his second-fasest career performance over 5000m, behind his PB of 13:20.63 set in Rio de Janeiro earlier this season.

The KBC Night of Athletics meeting held in Heusden-Zolder on 10. July once again served as a showcase of world-class athletes, highlighted by David Rudisha's stellar performance in the 800m.  Rudisha's winning time of 1:41.51 made him history's second-fastest performer over that distance (Wilson Kipketer, 1:41.11 WR, 1997).

Behind Rudisha, Belal Mansoor finished a clear 2nd in 1:44.95, his fastest over the distance since 2007. Several other KBC highlights were provided by international Golazo athletes, with none bigger than Daniel K. Komen's 1500m victory in 3:32.16, this season's world No. 2 performance for the distance and Komen's fastest in the event since 2008. 

Following in the slipstream of Komen, Golazo teammate and highly-regarded pacemaker Ismael K. Kombich took full advantage of this opportunity to run his own race, finishing 2nd in 3:33:31, a new personal best by over 3 seconds, and putting him at No. 7 on the current world chart.  In the 5000m, Jacob Cheshari's winning time of 12:59.72 made him the 38th Kenyan in history to break the 13:00 barrier, while becoming this season's world No. 13 performer. 

Cheshari was followed by teammates Leonard P. Komon (3rd in 13:17.32), Josphat Bett (5th in 13:19.77), and Dame Tasama (13:28.19 Personal Best).  Hillary Yego continued his ascent toward the steeplechase elite with his 3rd place and new personal best of 8:19.50, the No. 2 Junior performance in the world this season.  Haron Lagat also established a new personal best in the SC with his 6th place time of 8:25.04.
 
Noteworthy performances from other meetings in the past week included Milcah Chemos Cheywa's 3000m Steeplechase victory (9:26.70) at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon on 3. July, her third straight IAAF Diamond League victory. Also competing well in Eugene was Daniel K. Komen in the Mile (4th in 3:50.70, '10 World No. 5) and Josphat Bett in the 5000m (13:11.60 Season Best). 

Finally, at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Lausanne on 8. July, Nicholas Kemboi won for the second time on the top circuit, establishing this season's world-leading 1500m mark and personal best of 3:31.52. Behind Kemboi, Daniel K. Komen ran another strong race, finishing 4th in 3:33.61.  In the 3000m Steeplechase, Paul K. Koech placed 3rd in 8:11.65 and Patrick Langat was 6th in 8:17.36.

Kim Clijsters. (Picture imagellan)

Exactly 35,681 spectators headed for the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels to enjoy an evening filled with top level sport and great music. With that number the BNP Paribas Fortis Best of Belgium set a new world record. The previous record of 30,472 spectators and visitors dated 1973 when Billie Jean King played Bobby Riggs in the Houston Astrodome for the so-called Battle of the Sexes.

Initially, the event in Brussels had to become a 'Belgian Battle', but Justine Henin injured her elbow at Wimbledon and so the clash was no longer possible. Serena Williams was a great stand-in for Henin. Serena and Kim Clijsters, under the supervision of one time umpire Martina Navratilova, turned the tennis match into a great spectacle.

The 35,681 spectators admired the nice rallies between Kim and Serena. Navratilova enjoyed it as well. When Clijsters in the eighth game nearly torpedoed umpire Navratilova with a missed return, the American joked: "Did I say something wrong?"

The remainder of the eighth game went much better for Kim. She broke through the service of Serena and next served for the set herself: 6-3. In the second set, Clijsters immediately managed two breaks as well. The Belgian player no longer handed in her lead and around 10pm the 35,681 tennis fans went through the roof after the last point. Kim beat Serena 6-3 and 6-2.

After that last point the party in Brussels was far from over. A concert and fireworks followed.

The Rome Golden Gala meeting held 10. June served as the season's fourth stop on the inaugural IAAF Diamond League circuit.  Steeplechase expert Milcah Chemos Cheywa continued her early-season dominance in the event by capturing her second straight Diamond League win there, and in the process improved her world-leading mark to 9:11.72.  Chemos now owns the top-2 steeple performances in the world this season (9:12.66 in Oslo).  Also in Rome, Daniel Kipchirchir Komen finished a close 2nd in the 1500m with a time of 3:33.08, making him the world no. 3 performer this season.  The event was won by Augustine Choge (3:32.21).

The fifth stop on the '10 Diamond League tour followed closely after Rome, with the adidas Grand Prix held in New York City on 12. June.  Golazo athletes were entered in two events and they secured victories in both. New Golazo team member Nicholas Kiptanui Kemboi won the 1500m in a new personal best of 3:33.29, defeating a deep field that included '08 and '10 IAAF indoor 1500m world champion Deresse Mekonnen (2nd in 3:33.85) and '07 IAAF 1500m world champion Bernard Lagat (5th in 3:34.36).  Kemboi's time makes him the no. 4 performer in the event this season.  In the 3000m Steeplechase, pacemakers Haron Lagat (1000m in 2:39.68) and Patrick Langat (2000m in 5:23.38) set up Paul Kipsiele Koech's win in 8:10.43.  Continuing on after his pacemaking duties, Langat finished 2nd in 8:15.52, keeping clear of Olympic Champion Brimin Kipruto (3rd in 8:18.92).

In other recent action on the track circuit, Iness Chepkesis Chenonge posted her second-best career performance over 3000m in Huelva on 9. June.  Finishing second, Chenonge's time of 8:38.75 is this season's world no. 2 performance behind Huelva winner Nuria Fernandez (8:38.05). Finally, in Montreuil-sous-Bois on 8. June, Ester Chemtai established a new personal best in the 3000m with her 5th place time of 8:44.47, the '10 world no. 8 performance for the distance.