(BEIJING, September 9) -- A misty Bird's Nest housed a field of glory for the 13 athletes crowned gold medalists on Day 2 of Athletics action, on Tuesday evening, September 9.
The crowd was treated to a world record in the first track final of the evening, the Men's 100m T11. Lucas Prado of Brazil did what he has been doing all week, and broke his own world record (11.19 seconds), streaking away from the field for the gold medal in a time of 11.03s. Jose Armando of Angola stole the silver medal from bronze medalist Tresor Makunda of France in 11.35s.
Brazil's Lucas Prado (L) runs with his guide. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
In the Men's 5000m T11, Luis Zapien of Mexico took an early lead on the pack with Zhang Zhen of China close on his heels for the opening laps. But world and Paralympic record holder Henry Wanyoike of Kenya edged ahead midway through the race and, along with Francis Thuo Karanja of Kenya, these four competitors broke away from the pack. With 1000m remaining, Zapien fell off the pace and it became a three man race for the gold medal. As the bell signaled the final lap, Karanja had a slight lead over Zhang. But at the final turn, Zhang, and his guide, turned up the pace and the National Stadium erupted as the Chinese cheered home their newest Paralympic champion in 15:27.35. Karanja scored the silver medal (15:32.28) and Wanyoike secured the bronze medal (15:47.17).
Somaya Bousaid competes. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
In the Women's 800m - T13/12, Somaya Bousaid of Tunisia streaked ahead at the 250m mark. Assia El'hannouni of France narrowed the gap and stayed on Bousaid's shoulder for the middle 400 meters. But Bousaid had more left in the tank and she took the home straight comfortably, and the gold medal in 2:03.21. El'hannouni set a T12 world record (2:04.96) to secure the silver medal. The two Russian competitors looked to be having a mini-battle of their own for the bronze medal. But Elena Pautova of Russia was too strong for Rima Batalova, and secured the bronze medal (2:15.70).
Li Huzhao sprints. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
The Men's 4x100m -T53/54 saw the home team take the gold medal. The Chinese team of Zhong Kai, Zhao Ji, Zhang Lixin and Li Huzhao went out hard and came home strong, to win the gold comfortably in 49.90s, just shy of the world record (49.89) that they set in Monday evening's heats. The Athens gold medalists, Thailand, finished with a silver medal, in 51.93s, ahead of bronze medalists the Republic of Korea (53.52s).
In the Men's 100m - T44, Oscar Pistorius of South Africa had the crowd on their feet as he streaked home in 11.17 seconds to take the gold medal. Pistorius just missed his Paralympic record (11.16s) in a thrilling final. The United State's Jerome Singleton (11.20s) and Brian Frasure (11.50s) took home the silver and bronze medals respectively.
With less than 20 meters to run in the Women's 200m - T44, the Paralympic dreams of April Holmes of the United States and Marie-Amelie le Fur of France were crushed. Holmes stumbled and fell into Le Fur's lane, the pair falling to the track and out of medal contention. In lanes one and two, Green of Germany and Kate Horan of New Zealand snuck through to steal the gold and silver medals (in 28.02s and 28.36s respectively). Stefanie Reid of Canada was also clear from the collision in lane nine, and she secured the bronze medal (28.85s).
In the Men's 200m - T46 things were less traumatic. Heath Francis of Australia blitzed the field to win the gold medal in a world record (21.74s), ahead of silver medalist Antonis Aresti of Cyprus and bronze medalist Ettiam Calderon of Cuba.
In the Women's 100m - T38, Inna Dyachenko of Ukraine set a world record (13.43) to comfortably win the gold medal. Sonia Mansour of Tunisia and Margarita Koptilova of Russia took the silver and bronze medals, in times of 13.66s and 13.97s respectively.
The five field events on Tuesday evening were straight finals. Two men's finals were contested in the classes 37/38: the Men's Javelin - F37/38 and the Men's Long Jump - F37/38.
In the Men's Javelin - F37/38, Xia Dong of China had the home crowd cheering with an F37 world record (57.81m) for 1201 points on his first throw. This initial effort was his best of the evening, and enough to secure the gold medal. But the locals had even more to cheer about, when Zhang Xuelong of China gained the silver medal with his third throw (50.24m) for 1044 points. Javad Hardini of the Islamic Republic of Iran snared the bronze medal with his final effort (47.65m) for 972 points, ahead of Wade Mcmahon of Australia at 970 points.
Farhat Chida competes. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
In the Men's Long Jump - F37/38, the crowd was treated to plenty of excitement with a number of world record performances. Farhat Chida of Tunisia jumped an F38 world record (6.36m) on his second effort to take the lead in the competition (1090 points). Haider Ali of Pakistan equaled this distance on his third effort to secure a share of the lead. Ma Yuxi of China scored 1063 points for his F37 world record (6.12m) on his first jump, but was holding third position heading into the back end of the competition. Chida bettered the F38 world record, with a 6.44m (wind +0.9km/hr), on his second last jump to secure the gold, with 1104 points. Ali equaled this effort (wind +1.9), for the silver medal on his final leap. Ma bettered the F37 world record (6.19m) on his final jump, for the bronze medal ahead of Aristotellis Marinos of Greece in fourth position.
In the Women's Shot Put - F42-46, Zheng Baozhu of China led at the end of three throws with 1070 points, from an F42 world record (9.98m) on her second put. And she didn't look back. A 10.06 meter put (for 1078 points) secured the gold medal and an F42 world record on her final put. Compatriot Zhong Yongyuan of China scored 1051 points on her fourth put (9.80m) to secure the silver medal ahead of Michaela Floeth of Germany. Floeth set an F44 world record (12.58m) on her fifth put, for 1034 points, to pick up the bronze medal.
In the Women's Shot Put - F57/58, Stela Evena of Bulgaria set the pace with an F58 world record (10.23m) on her third put. But Nadia Medjemedj of Algeria set an F57 world record (10.93m) to steal the lead, with 1088 points. Angeles Ortiz of Mexico equaled Evena's mark, but then bettered it twice more with her second (10.35m) and third (10.94m) throws, to take the top position with 1126 points. But she didn't stay there long, Eucharia Njideka Iyiazi bested Ortiz's F58 world record with 10.96m for 1128 points and the gold medal. Ortiz finished with the silver medal and Medjemedj was awarded the bronze medal.
Pieter Gruijters competes. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
In the Men's Javelin Throw - F55/56, Pieter Gruijter of Netherlands set an F56 world record (42.27m) on his third throw to take the gold medal, with 1159 points. China secured another Paralympic medal, when Zhang Yingbin threw a 32.70m on his second throw, for 994 points and the silver medal. Yaser Abdelaziz Elsayed of Egypt picked up the bronze medal, with 929 points on his fifth throw (30.54m).
But the finals were not the only place that records were set on Tuesday evening. In the heats of the Men's 400m - T13, Luis Manuel Galano of Cuba clocked a Paralympic record (49.28s). In the Women's 400m - T53 heats, Jessica Galli of the United States of America set a Paralympic record (56.10s). The Republic of Korea's Hong Suk-man's 49.13s earned a Paralympic record in the heats of the Men's 400m - T53.