The 39th edition of the Memorial Van Damme meeting, held 11 September in Boudewijnstadion, Brussels, once again served as the 14th and final stop on the IAAF Diamond League circuit.
Going into the women’s DL steeplechase final, Virginia Nyambura Nganga held a 6-point lead over Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi in the Diamond Race standings, thanks to her winning performances in Doha, Birmingham, and Lausanne, as well as her 2nd and 3rd place finishes in Rome and Monaco, respectively. After staying with the lead group through much of the race, both Nyambura and Jepkemoi were unable to keep up with Habiba Ghribi (Tunesia), who ultimately won the race in a new African record of 9:05.36, followed by Jepkemoi in 2nd (9:10.15, 4 points), and with Nyambura in 6th (9:20.38). The 15 points already accumulated by Nyambura consequently clinched the ’15 Diamond Race title in the steeplechase, with Jepkemoi in 2nd (13 points), and Ghribi in 3rd (12 points). Nyambura’s DL points title in the steeplechase follows in the footsteps and tradition of Personae teammates Milcah Chemos, who won four DL steeple points titles in 2010-2013, and Paul Koech, who won three such titles in 2010-2012.
Other Personae-managed athletes competing in Brussels included Michael Bultheel (4th in 400mH – 49.66); Purity Kirui (5th in steeple – 9:17.74 SB); Pieter-Jan Hannes (7th in 1500m – 3:40.04); Alfred Kipketer (8th in 800m – 1:46.98); Ann Zagre (8th in 100mH – 13.01); Paul Koech (9th in 5000m – 13:07.74 SB); Ann Gathoni (12th in steeple – 9:44.82); and Isiah Koech (14th in 5000m – 13:22.33).