Russia and US sign off with relay golds

Jeremy Wariner anchored defending champions the United States to victory in the men's 400 metres relay yesterday for his second gold of the world championships.

Russia led from start to finish to take the women's event in three minutes 20.95 seconds.

World and Olympic 400 champion Wariner took the baton from Darold Williamson and sprinted away from Bahamas to give the US gold in 2:56.91 - the fastest time in the world this year.

In the final event of the 10th world championships in the Finnish capital, Bahamas took silver with a national record of 2:57.32. Jamaica won bronze in 2:58.07.

Yuliya Pechonkina, the 400 hurdles champion, notched up her second gold medal in as many days when she led off the Russian quartet in the women's race.

Jamaica, Poland and Britain battled it out for the minor medals. The Jamaicans, who only qualified as fastest losers, pulled clear with 200 to go to win the silver in 3:23.29. Britain edged Poland out to clinch bronze in 3:24.44.

Russia finished second in Paris two years ago behind the US, who were disqualified in Saturday's heats for multiple lane infractions.

Cuban Osleidys Menendez broke her own javelin world record by 16 centimetres in recapturing the world title yesterday.

The Olympic champion launched a first-round throw of 71.70 metres, bettering the mark of 71.54 she set in Rethimno, Crete, on July 1, 2001.

Germany's Christina Obergfoll (70.03) smashed her personal best by over five metres to win silver. Compatriot Steffi Nerius (65.96) took bronze.

The medal-winning throws from Menendez, the 2001 world champion, and Obergfoll are the only two over 70 metres this year.

Krymarenko does it with last jump

Ukraine's Yuriy Krymarenko claimed a surprise victory in the men's high jump with the last jump of the night.

Krymarenko cleared 2.32 to take gold ahead of Victor Moya of Cuba and Yaroslav Rybakov of Russia, who shared second place with identical records after clearing 2.29.

Sweden's Olympic champion Stefan Holm, the favourite for gold, finished seventh with 2.29 on his second attempt.

"I'm so happy and surprised," said Krymarenko.

"My dream was to be in the group of the best eight but I didn't plan to be the winner. I thought Holm would have been the strongest."

Rybakov and Moya shared the lead until the Ukrainian, who was the last man to jump on a clear night in Helsinki, cleared 2.32, just one centimetre below his personal best.

His winning height equalled the lowest in a world final set by Gennady Avdyeyenko of the Soviet Union at the inaugural championships in Finland in 1983, the year Krymarenko was born.

Defending champion Jacques Freitag of South Africa did not qualify for the final.

Kenyan Benjamin Limo produced a decisive late burst to win the men's 5,000 metres world title.

The 1999 world silver medallist overhauled Ethiopian Sileshi Sihine deep into the straight to claim gold in 13:32.55.

Sihine, who won silver behind compatriot Kenenisa Bekele in the 10,000 final last Monday, had to settle for second again in 13:32.81.

Australian Craig Mottram (13:32.96) denied an African medals sweep by holding off 2003 champion Eliud Kipchoge for bronze.

Olympic champion Hicham El Guerrouj did not compete in Helsinki and Bekele decided against attempting the double after his 10,000 victory.

Russian Chizhenko disqualified in 1,500m

Tatyana Tomashova retained her 1,500 metres title but a Russian sweep was ruled out by a disqualification.

Tomashova won in 4:00.35 and thought she had led her team-mates home to the first sweep in the event at the championships but second-placed Yuliya Chizhenko was later disqualified.

Bahrain protested and the jury of appeal ruled that Chizhenko had jostled Yusuf Jamal. Olga Yegorova was promoted to silver with France's Bouchra Ghezielle given the bronze.

"It felt great and I'm so happy," said Tomashova, who also won the Olympic silver in Athens last year.

"All of the Russian competitors were very strong just like I knew they were going to. We didn't agree on anything. Everyone ran for herself."

Yelena Soboleva, also Russian, led the race at the bell but failed to maintain her lead as her compatriots and Ghezielle passed her in the last lap.

Overall, the US athletes led the final medals table with 25 medals, 14 gold, eight silver and three bronze. Russia were second (7-8-5) and Ethiopia third (3-4-2).