Sun shines for six champions

Markku Niinimaki celebrates.

(BEIJING, September 12)  The sun was shining in the Bird's Nest for the six athletes named Paralympic champions on Friday morning.

Men's Javelin Throw - F53/54 (wheelchair athletes with different levels of spinal cord injuries and amputations)

China's Fan Liang had the crowd cheering when he set an F54 Paralympic record (26.06m) on his third throw, for 988 points. Iran's Abdolreza Jokar snatched the advantage, with his F53 world record (22.07m), for 1107 points, while an F54 Paralympic record (26.78m) for Russia's Alexey Kuznetsov earned him second-place on the leader-board, with 1015 points. Markku Niinimaki (Finland) and Felix Zepeda (Mexico) threw out F54 world record attempts (27.33m), for 1036 points apiece. But Niinimaki snuck ahead, with a 28.17m throw, for 1068 points. Drazenko Mitrovec (Serbia) moved into third-place, with his sixth throw (27.42m), for 1040 points. But he was pushed out of the medals, when Zepeda threw out an F54 world record (28.67m), for 1087 points, to secure the bronze medal. In third-position, with nothing to lose, and everything to gain, Niinimaki saved his best throw for last. His F54 world record (29.33m), for 1112 points scored him the gold medal. Jokar scored an F53 world record (22.08m) on his final throw, for 1108 points and the silver medal.

Alla Malchyk elebrates.

Women's Shot Put - F35/36 (classification for ambulant athletes with different levels of cerebral palsy)

China's Wu Qing got off to a great start, setting an F36 Paralympic record (8.94m) for 1004 points. She bettered this mark on her second throw (9.08m), for 1020 points. But, Athens bronze medalist Alla Malchyk of Ukraine grabbed the lead, and the gold medal, with an F36 world record (9.33m), for 1048 points, on her fourth and fifth attempts. Wu bettered her own score on her sixth attempt (9.13m), for 1025 points, to secure the silver medal. Athens gold medalist Renata Chilewska of Poland scored 978 points for her third put (9.13m). But she made sure of the bronze medal, with her sixth put (9.26m), for 992 points.

Li Duan competes.

Men's Triple Jump - F11 (a classification for visually impaired athletes)

Spaniard Javier Porras scored the best jump in the opening round, with 12.28m. But Li Duan of China stole the lead with his Paralympic record (13.33m) on his second attempt. Russia's Audrey Koptev jumped into second-place, on his third attempt, with a distance of 12.38m. But Porras leaped past Koptev in the standings, with a third jump of 12.69m. Koptev maintained third-place with distances of 12.38m and 12.40m on his third and fourth leaps. But Zeynidin Bilalov shot through the rankings to a silver medal, with a fifth jump of 12.80m. Porras improved his distance, to maintain third-position and secure the bronze medal, with his fifth jump (12.71m). Li surpassed his Paralympic record, with a world record (13.71m) on the final jump of the competition, for a gold medal.

Evan O'Hanlon celebrates.

Men's 100m - T38 (classification for ambulant athletes with differing levels of cerebral palsy)

Evan O'Hanlon clocked a world record (10.96s) to take gold in a quick 100m final. Athens silver medalist Zhou Wenjun (China) collected the silver medal, in a time of 11:14s, ahead of bronze medalist Mykyta Senyk (Ukraine), in 11.18s. The Athens gold medalist, Timothy Sullivan (Australia) finished in seventh position, and the Athens bronze medalist, Farhat Chida from Tunisia, could only manage a fifth-place.

Lisa McIntosh celebrates.

Women's 100m - T37 (classification for ambulant athletes with differing levels of cerebral palsy)

Having qualified fastest for the final, in 14.27s, Sydney gold medalist and Athens bronze medalist Lisa McIntosh of Australia sped home for the gold medal, in a time of 14.14s. Viktoriya Kravchenko of Ukraine picked up the silver medal, in 14.21s, ahead of bronze medalist Maria Seifert of Germany, in 14.28s. Athens silver medalist Isabelle Foerder, also from Germany, finished in fourth, while the Athens gold medalist Oksana Krechunyak of Ukraine finished in sixth position.

Amanda Mcgrory (front) competes.

Women's 5000m - T54 (classification for wheelchair athletes with different levels of spinal cord injuries and amputations)

A crash in Monday night's final of the Women's 5000m - T54 caused organizers to reschedule the event to Friday morning. Nothing could separate the racers for the majority of the race, as they seemed content to conserve energy for a dash at the final lap. With 250 meters remaining, Canada's Diane Roy, Great Britain's Shelly Woods and the United States' Amanda McGregory and Cheri Blauwet cranked up the pace and pulled away from the rest of the pack. McGregory snatched the victory at the line, in 12:29.07, from Roy (12:29.08). Woods picked up the bronze medal, in 12:29.32, ahead of Blauwet, who finished in fourth, in 12:29.43.