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.

The 13th stop on this year's IAAF Diamond League circuit was the Weltklasse meeting held 19. August in Zurich.  The men's 3000m steeplechase saw Paul Kipsiele Koech finish 2nd in 8:05.48, behind '09 IAAF World Champion Ezekiel Kemboi (8:01.74).  With that performance, Koech clinched the inaugural IAAF Diamond League race (points) in his event with a total of 17 points, ahead of runner-up Kemboi (15 points) and '08 Beijing Olympic Champion, Brimin Kipruto (10 points).  In the 5000m, David Kiprotich Bett established a new personal best of 13:06.06, which also is the fastest junior time in the world this season.

The 34th edition of Memorial Ivo Van Damme held 27. August, served as the IAAF Diamond League finale, and once again drew a full-capacity crowd of nearly 50.000 in Brussel's Stade Roi Baudouin.  Milcah Chemos Cheywa, who had already clinched the Diamond League points race in the 3000m steeplechase, further increased her final points margin with a 2nd place finish (9:22.34) behind winner Sofia Assefa (9:20.72).  Chemos' final DL season score of 24 points, well ahead of Assafa's 9 points and Lydia Rotich's 5 points, reflected her season-long dominance of the event, which also included the current '10 world best of 9:11.72 (Oslo DL).  Other Golazo athletes with noteworthy performances in Brussels included Paul K. Koech (2nd - 3000m SC in 8:07.66, his 45th career sub-8:10 performance), Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (6th - 1500m in 3:34.03), David Mutinda Mutua (6th - 800m in 1:45.90 personal best and '10 world junior No. 2), and Iness Chenonge (8th - 5000m in 14:43.14).

Finally, the Berlin ISTAF meeting took place 22. August, in between the Zurich and Brussels meetings.  International Golazo athletes there were led by Jacob Cheshari (6th - 3000m in 7:34.71 personal best and '10 world No. 10) and David K. Bett (8th - 3000m in 7:37.51 personal best  and '10 world No. 15).  Ismael Kipngetich Kombich was 6th in the 1500 (3:34.29), while Belal Mansoor Ali finished 7th in the 800m (1:45.28).

As Belgium is currently presiding the Council of the European Union, a special event was organised whereby 100 meter runners were invited from each member state. The Brit Marlon Devonish won the event in 10.19, beating the Lithuanian Sakalauskas and the Italian Di Gregorio. The first discipline at the Memorial was the discus for women. The Cuban Yarelis Barrios was the lead for a while and already had secured her Diamond League but still was pipped by the Croatian Sandra Perkovic. With 66m93 she also set a new national record. In the shot put for men, Christian Cantwell seemed heading for victory for a long time, but Reese Hoffa countered him with his final attempt and 22m16. Cantwell did win his Diamond League.
In the 3000m steeplechase Mahiedine Mekhissi dropped Paul Koech in the final lap. Mekhissi missed out on the European record with hardly a second. In not precisely the most favourable conditions he improved his personal best with four seconds and his time 8'02"53 is the fourth best of the season. Olga Rypakova from Kazakhstan outjumped everybody at the triple jump. Her jump of 14m80 sufficed to keep the Cuban Yargelis Savigne (14m56) and the Ukrainian Olha Saladukha behind her. Savigne wins the Diamond League. The Belgian Svetlana Bolshakova and bronze medallist at the European championships ended sixth. In the 400m hurdles for men the American Bershawn Jackson outsprinted his field of contenders. With 47.85 he beat the Briton David Greene and Javier
Culson. The Belgian Michael Bultheel claimed fifth in a personal best. In the 400m for men no less than three Belgians competed. Cedric Van Branteghem ran his very last race against the brothers Borlée, Jonathan and European champion Kevin. However, Nery Brenes outsprinted them all in 44.92, a new national record for Costa Rica. He beats Jonathan Borlée, the Jamaican Allodin Fothergill and Kevin Borlée.
In the 200m for women Allyson Felix, who had received flowers from some fans in the street prior to the race, already had secured her Diamond. At the Memorial she won the event in 22.62, beating her fellow Americans Shalonda Solomon and Bianca Knight. The Kenyan Janeth Jepkosgei won the 800m for women in 1:58.82. She beat the Russian Mariya Savinova and the South African Caster Semenya. Jepkosgei takes the Diamond League in this event. One of the absolute highlights of the evening was the 100m for men, which Tyson Gay won in 9.79, eclipsing the Jamaicans Nesta Carter (9.85) and Yohan Blake (9.91). Gay also won the diamond. In the presence of the pregnant Olympic champion high jump Tia Hellebaut Blanka Vlasic won the event. She already had secured her diamond and topped 2m. Sadly enough, she did not make it past 2m04.
With a season's best the Ethiopian Sofia Assefa has won the 3000m steeplechase in 9:20.72. She
beat Cheiwya (9:22.34), who wins the Diamond, and Almaz Ayana (9:22.51). The latter set a new
world record for juniors. The Canadian Priscilla Lopes-Schliep outsprinted them all in the 100 meter hurldes for women. In a time of 12.54 she had to dig in deep to keep Sally Pearson (12.64)
and the other Canadian Perdita Felicien (12.68) at bay. Lopes-Schliep secured her Diamond League. The Kenyan Asbel Kiprop was the best in the 1500 meter for men. He must have reserved his best form this year for the Memorial as he won in a season's best with 3:32.18. Kiprop also took home the Diamond. The American Leonel Manzano claimed second (3:32.37) and Kiprono Choge (3:32.88) third. In the 800m for men the star of the moment and Kenyan Sammy Rudisha won in 1:43.50. He also took the Diamond home. In a tight final he eclipsed the Sudanese Abubaker Kaki Khamis (1:43.84). Another Kenyan Boaz Lalang claimed third in 1:44.29.
In the triple jump victory was taken by the Frenchman Teddy Tamgho, who managed 17m52 at his fifth attempt and sealed his diamond. Like that he kept ahead of the Cuban Alexis Copello (17m47) and the Swedish Christian Olsson (17m35). The Norwegian Andreas Thorkildsen won the javelin  event. With his second attempt he threw the javelin 89m88 far and never let go the lead he then  took. The Fin Tero Pitkamaki (83m36) and the German Matthias De Zordo (82m39) claimed second and third respectively. Thorkildsen, who is also the European and Olympic champion, turns into a real diamond. The German Malte Mohr won the pole vault with 5m85. Renaud Lavillenie, who claimed second with 5m80, took the diamond home.
The final event of the Memoria was the 5000m for women. There the Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot ruled.
She secured her diamond in a time of 14:34.14, nearly a second faster than her compatriot Masai. Her most important competitor in the Diamond League, Ejigu, finished third. Traditionally the Belgacom Memorial Van Damme offers a lot of extras. Not only is there the preliminary programme with young athletes. The main event kicks off with a real star parade, whereby the athletes are driven around the stadium in convertibles, and a charity 100m for famous tv women. Despite some rain halfway through some fine performances and impressive results were put on display. The Memorial concluded with a concert by Vaya Con Dios and fireworks. It might also have soothed the predominantly Belgian audience that with the brothers Borlées and Bolshakova the future of Belgian athletics has been secured.