Mercy Gakii And Agencies
17 September 2008
Nairobi — Kenya's hopes of getting a sixth gold at the Paralympics went up in smoke after former world record holder Henry Wanyoike failed to complete the 42 kilometre T12 marathon race in Beijing as the Games ended on Wednesday.
The five categories of 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 Theatre, the Capital Gymnasium, Peking University, Tsinghua University and the Olympic Sports Centre.
Lone contestant
The 34 year old Wanyoike, the lone contestant from Kenya in the longest race of the competitions succumbed to the heat of Beijing in the only competition to be held outside of the Bird's nest.
The race was won by 24 year old Chinese Qi Shun who set a new world record of 2:30.32. Shun who had concentrated all of his efforts in Beijing on the marathon, and this dedication finally paid off, had the crowd on their feet cheering, as he picked up the gold.
Silver went to Serna Elkin of Colombia who clocked two hours, 31:16 minutes to bag his first medal of the games. Russian Pomykalov Ildar had to be content with bronze after crossing the finish in 2:33.27, almost three minutes after the winner.
In other marathon races, Australia's Kurt Fearnley won the men's marathon T54. He finished with a Paralympic record of 1:23.17 and will leave Beijing with one gold, two silver and one bronze medals.
Japan's Sasahara Hiroki picked up his first medal when he finished second, clocking one hour 23.17 minutes.
Ernst van Dyk of South Africa secured the bronze medal, in one hour 23:18 minutes. Dyk also won a cycling gold medal, in the men's individual road race, during the competitions.
Overall, Kenya, with 13 athletes (and five guides) in the Games was good as the team at number 26 overall with a total tally of nine medals.
Outstanding
One athlete - Henry Kiprono Kirwa - was particularly outstanding, finishing winning all races that he was enlisted to compete, whether they were heats or finals.
He won three gold medals in the men's 5000m T13, 1500m T13 ,and the 10,000m T12. Abraham Cheruiyot Tarbei won two golds in 1500 and 5000 T46 categories.
The only female athlete to bring in a medal was Mary Nakhumicha Zakayo who got silver in Javelin F57/58 category.
Samuel Mushai who competed in two different races won silver in 1500 T11 class. Wanyoike settled for bronze in men's 5,000m T11, while Francis Karanja Thuo took silver in the same race.
The government is expected to fete the Paralympics medallists with an equal amount of cash reward that was awarded to Olympics medallists last month.
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