24/08/2008 12:48 PM
The last Australian competing in a medal event in Beijing, Lee Troop has finished 60th in the men's marathon contested in clear, warm conditions on Sunday morning.
Troop was 35th at the half-way mark of the event and still negotiating the streets of the city as the race winner, Samuel Wansiru of Kenya entered the National Stadium to rousing applause from the crowd of more than 90,000.
Wansiru completed the 42.2 kilometre course in two hours, six minutes and 32 seconds, a new Olympic record which beat Carlos Lopes' mark set in Los Angeles 24 years ago by two minutes and 49 seconds.
There was not a bead of sweat on him, and he looked as though he could go around again.
The 21-year-old was among a group of three runners which had opened up a break of more than one-and-a-half-minutes on the rest of the field at the 35km mark.
Wansiru broke free from his running partners Jaouad Gharib of Morocco and Ethiopian Deriba Merga about two kilometres up the road and cruised to the finish 44 seconds clear of silver medallist Gharib.
Tsegay Kebede managed to come from fourth at the 40km mark to overhaul his countryman Merga in the shadows of the Bird's Nest for bronze in 2:10.00.
A standout in his gold singlet and gold cap, Troop crossed in 2:27.17 - 20 minutes and 45 seconds behind the winner.