(BEIJING, September 8) -- Just like the morning session, the evening had 22
heats along with six finals which included the first track final of the
Athletics competition. World and Paralympic records were set in the National
Stadium and the Women's 5000m - T54 was marred by an accident.
Results
Unfortunately for some participants of the Women's 5000m - T54 (wheelchair
athletes with different levels of spinal cord injuries and amputations), a
collision in the last lap, less than 100m from the finish line, caused six
athletes to fall and abandon their race. The accident involved all three
medalists from the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, Wakako Tsuchida of Japan, Edith
Hunkeler of Switzerland and Cheri Blauwet of the United States. Only five
athletes finished the race and Diane Roy of Canada appeared to have taken the
first Track gold medal in 11:54.03, setting a new Paralympic record. A close
second was Shelly Woods of Great Britain with 11:54.29, while American Amanda
McGrory came in third with 11:54.84. It was later announced that these results
may not hold and the race is expected to be rescheduled on Tuesday.
Karim Betina of Algeria stole the show early in the Men's Shot Put - F32
(wheelchair athletes with different levels of cerebral palsy) when he broke the
world record (9.92m) with just his second...
