Wednesday morning's session saw the final Athletics gold medals awarded at the Paralympic Games. The medals were decided in five categories of the Marathon.
Men's Marathon - T54
Australia's Kurt Fearnley fought off a spirited fight from Japan's Sasahara Hiroki to win back-to-back Men's Marathon - T54 Paralympic gold medal. Fearnley finished with a Paralympic record (1:23.17), and will leave Beijing with one gold, two silver and one bronze medals.
Sasahara picked up his first medal (silver) in Beijing, in 1:23:17.
Ernst van Dyk of South Africa secured the bronze medal, in 1:23:18. Dyk also won a cycling gold medal, in the Men's Individual Road Race, on September 14.
The 11-year-old world record (1:20:14) set by Heinz Frei of Switzerland remained safe for another competition. Frei finished in 14th place, in 1:25:43.
Women's Marathon - T54
In a congested final lap of the National Stadium, Edith Hunkeler (Switzerland) broke away from the pack to win with a Paralympic record (1:39:59). She will add this medal to the bronze she won in Tuesday night's Women's 1500m - T54 final.
Amanda McGrory of the United States finished in 1:40:00 to secure the silver, ahead of bronze medalist Sandra Graf of Switzerland, in 1:40:01. McGrory now has one gold, one silver and two bronze medals from Beijing, while Graf's bronze is her first Paralympic medal.
Italian Francesca Porcellato's world record (1:38:29) wasn't challenged. Porcellato finished ninth in Wednesday's final, in 1:54:27.
Men's Marathon - T52
The Athens silver medalist, Thomas Geierspichler of Austria, set a world record (1:40:07) to pick up the gold.
Japan's Ueyonabaru Hirokazu secured his first Paralympic medal, the silver, in 1:40:10.
Athens gold medalist Takada Toskihiro, also from Japan picked up the bronze medal, in 1:40:20. Takada will leave Beijing with two silvers and one bronze.
Men's Marathon - T46
Mexico's Mario Santillan had the Stadium to himself, as he crossed the line in a world record (2:27:04).
Tito Sena from Brazil entered the National Stadium for the silver, in 2:30:49.
Italy's Walter Endrizzi won bronze, in 2:32:51.
Men's Marathon - T12
Qi Shun of China had the crowd on their feet cheering, as he picked up the gold in 2:30:32. Qi concentrated all of his efforts in Beijing on the Marathon, and his dedication paid off.
Colombia's Elkin Serna secured his first Paralympic medal, the silver, in 2:31:16, ahead of bronze medalist Ildar Pomykalov of Russia, in 2:33:27.
The Marathons started in front of the National Museum, on the east side of Tiananmen Square, and finished in the National Stadium. The 42.195km route passed the Temple of Heaven, the China National Grand Theater, the Capital Gymnasium, Peking University, Tsinghua University and the Olympic Sports Center.
(BOCOG September 17, 2008)