Paralympics: China sets world record

In an exciting farewell at the 6,000-capacity venue, China won the mixed C1 to C5 team sprint in 48.454 seconds, ahead of Britain in 49.519 -- both faster than the world record China had earlier set in qualifying.The Velodrome has proved a happy hunting ground for Britain, the hosts having won seven out of 10 golds during the Olympics and also topping the Paralympics medal table.From the 18 events, Britain won 15 medals (five golds, seven silvers and three bronzes), to finish ahead of China on nine (five golds, one silver, three bronzes) and Australia on eight (four golds, two silvers and two bronzes).Fittingly, the final anthem played was Britains God Save the Queen, for Anthony Kappes and his pilot Craig MacLean who won the mens individual B sprint.In B classification races, athletes with a visual impairment compete on a tandem bicycle with a sighted pilot on the front.Contested in three duels over six laps, Kappes and MacLean beat compatriots Barney Storey and his guide Neil Fachie, who pulled up in the second race.I just kept the power on the pedals. I didnt know it was quite so convincing till we crossed the line, MacLean said.Kappes and MacLeans win meant that the final event, the mixed C1 to C5 team sprint, disputed over three laps, would determine whether Britain would reign alone at the top of the gold medals count.C1 to C5 cyclists have an impairment that affects their legs, arms and/or trunk. The lower the class number, the greater the impact of their impairment.Chinas Ji Xiaofei (C4), Liu Xinyang (C5) and Xie Hao (C2) edged out Britains Jon-Allan Butterworth (C5), Darren Kenny (C3), Richard Waddon (C3).We just put focus on the race and all the energy into the race, Liu said.We didnt cooperate very well in the qualifier, so before the final we talked about cooperation and tried to do better.Kenny said: Its been the most amazing experience to race in this Velodrome. In a way its good us getting beaten, its just showing how the standard is going through the roof. Our days of dominance are starting to go.Wed like it to have gone the other way, when its that tight, but its exciting like that.Earlier in the 3,000m womens individual B pursuit, Philippa Gray and her pilot Laura Thompson of New Zealand, who set a new world record of 3:31.530 in qualifying, won the gold medal in 3:32.243.Irelands Catherine Walsh and Francine Meehan were beaten into second place in 3:36.360.There were two options: either catch the Irish or beat our own time and just hang on for dear life, said Gray.Costing 87 million ($138 million, 110 million euros) and clad in cedar, the Velodrome has been the scene of many memorable days of racing.When it reopens, the venue will form the heart of a new VeloPark for use by the local community, clubs and elite cyclists.The cycling action now switches to Brands Hatch, the former Grand Prix motor racing circuit outside London, where four days of medal events begin on Wednesday.