Boniface Kiprop of Uganda wins the men's 10,000m final (© Getty Images)
Haile Gebrselassie's World Junior Championships 10,000 metres record was narrowly beaten with an eyeballs out run from Boniface Kiprop in Grosetto tonight.
The Ugandan bettered the Ethiopian's 12-year-old mark by 0.22sec with a time of 28 minutes 03.77 second when beating off the challenge of Fabiano Joseph who clocked a season's best 28min 04.45sec.
Kiprop was rewarded for his dogged front running performance after taking the lead before 3,000 metres in what became a closely contested finish with Joseph.
In a sprint for the line, the World junior cross country silver-medallist, held off the challenge off the Tanzanian who after recovering ground on Kiprop in mid race, began posing a serious challenge.
The pair of African 18-year-old olds, stood head-and-shoulders above bronze medallist Ryuji Ono of Japan, who clocked 28min 30.45sec, and the rest of the 25 strong field.
They also showed the normally more successful Ethiopian and Kenyan rivals, they are a future threat to their domination of distance running..
Ashley Owens led a USA smash-and-grab of the 100 metres medals when easily winning ahead of Jasmine Baldwin with Australia'S Sally McLellan a sensational third.
Owens, showing why she is the fastest junior in the World this year, roared to a huge three metres victory when lowering her personal best to a time of 11.13 sec.
Neither Baldwin who finished in 11.34 sec nor McLellan, offered any real opposition to the fleet-footed American star, who won at a canter.
McLellan fully deserved her bronze medal, smashing 0.09 sec from her fastest-ever time with a clocking of 11.40 sec.
"I wanted to go faster but I feel excited to win the first gold medal for the United States,," said Owens, who predicted after her semi-final she expected 11.1sec would be needed to win the race.
Owens insisted competing here was more important than trying to gain selection for the the Olympic Games, the US trials taking place in tandem with her appearance here.
"I have preferred coming here than going to Sacramento because I feel I need to get international experience," said Owens.
There was more sprint glory for the USA when Ivory Williams caused an upset when beating his more fancied colleague Demi Omole for the 100m title.
Williams produced a season's best of 10.29sec to thwart the hopes of Omole, the fastest junior in the World this year.
Omole finished in a time of 10.31sec with Renaldo Rose claiming the bronze medal for Jamaica with 10.34sec.
A thrilling long jump competition saw Andrew Howe win the gold medal for the host nation with the best clearance in the World by a junior this year of 8.11 metres.
Howe born in Los Angeles before moving to Italy as a six-year-old, just held off the challenge of South Africa's Godfey Mokoena by two centimetres, with John Thornell of Australia, third with a 7.89m clearance.
Mariya Smolyachkova became only the second Belarusian to win a World Junior gold medal although with a jittery hammer throw victory.
Smolyachkova who finished 10th when Kingston hosted the Championships two years ago, won with a Championship record throw in the opening round.
Although short of her personal best by almost four centimetres, the effort of 66.81 metres bettered the 65.39 Ivana Brkljacic from Croatia threw to win at the last Championships.
Smolyachkova last summer's European silver medallist had only two valid throws, but the opener was good enough to secure an easy win.
Yang Youya finished second with a best effort of 61.67m, with the host nation celebrating the bronze medal won by Laura Gibilisco who threw 60.95m.
Ma Xuejun's first round throw of 57.85m saw her retain her discus title ahead of Darya Pishchalnikova and Nadine Muller.
There was drama in the final round when the Russian's throw fell just 48cm short of the winner's season's best winning mark.
Germany's Nadine Muller with a throw of 57.13m - where she temporarily overtook Pishchalnikova with her last attempt - claimed the bronze medal.
Ma Xuejen's victory was ther fifth succesive Championships in which a Chinese athlete has won the gold medal.
