BERLIN, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- China finally won a gold medal through Bai Xue in the women's marathon in the last day's competition of the 12th World Athletics Championships, putting an end to their frustrating wait for an athletics title since the Beijng Olympics. 

China's Bai Xue displays her medal during the women's marathon medal ceremony of the 2009 IAAF Athletics World Championships in Berlin, capital of Germany, August 23, 2009.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia won his first men's 5,000 meters world title to complete a golden double here in a thrilling race. American Bernard Lagat caught him up in the straight and passed him as well but the 10,000m champion came back, taking another title in the end in 13:17.09.

    China topped the gold medal tally in Beijing with 51 gold medals but none of them was from track and field. Now the whole nation can breathe a sigh of relief after 20-year-old Bai took thehistoric marathon win.

Chinese marathon team members stand on the podium during the women's marathon medal ceremony of the 2009 IAAF Athletics World Championships in Berlin, capital of Germany, August 23, 2009.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    With one kilometer to go, Bai overtook her only rival Yoshimi Ozaki of Japan to capture a commanding victor in 2:25:15. Ozaki held on for second in 2:25:25 while Ethiopia's Aselefech Mergia took bronze in 2:25:32.

    Bai's teammate Zhou Chunxiu, silver winner in Osaka 2007 and bronze medalist in last year's Olympics, was fourth in 2:25:39. Two other Chinese runners Zhu Xiaolin, fourth finisher in Osaka, and Sun Weiwei, finished fifth in 2:26:08 and 2:29:39 respectively.

    "Joy is the only word I can think about at the moment," Bai said. "It is the first gold for the Chinese team. I am very happy to be the champion."

    "This is my first world championships. I had no pressure and was very relaxed. I think I am very lucky because there are a fewtop runners failing to participate in the race," Bai said.

    Bekele has so far won 24 major championships titles. Lagat finished in second place in 13:17.33, adding to the bronze he won in 1,500m. Qatari James Kwalia took the bronze in 13:07.78.

    "Berlin is a special place," he said. "I'll never forget this race. I won double gold and I'm so happy."

    Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway, silver medalisttwo years ago in Osaka, won the men's javelin with a throw of 89.59 meters.

    Cuba's Guillermo Martines took silver with 86.41 and Japan's Yukifumi Murakami was third with 82.97.

China's Bai Xue (C) stands on the podium during the women's marathon medal ceremony of the 2009 IAAF Athletics World Championships in Berlin, capital of Germany, August 23, 2009.(Xinhua Photo)

    Bahrain's Maryam Yusuf Jamal retained the women's 1,500m title in 4:03.74, ahead of Britain's Lia Dobriskey (4:03.75) and American Shannon Rowbury (4:04.18).

    The men's 800m was won by South Africa's Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (1:45.29).Kenya's Alfred Kirwa Yego took silver (1:45.35) and Baharain's Yusuf Saad Kamel was third (1:45.35).

    The United States became the last day's biggest winner with three gold medals. Brittney Reese took the women's long jump by surprise with 7.10 meters, beating defending champion Tatyana Lebedeva of Russia (6.97) and Turkey's Karin Mey Melis (6.80) intosecond and third places.

    The star-studded U.S. team also won both 4x400m relays, the last two events of the championships, taking their medal tally to 10 golds, six silvers and six bronzes.

    LaShawn Merritt anchored the men's relay win and took his second gold to add to his 400m title. Sanya Richards and Allyson Felix also got their second gold after leading the U.S. women to their fifth 4x400m world title in history.

    Jamaica was second in the medals standings with 7-4-2 and Kenyathird with 4-5-2. China was 13th with 1-1-2, their best performance at the World Championships since 1993.

    A total of 37 countries and regions won medals in Berlin, with 19 of them having at least one gold medal.

    The next World Championships will be held in Daegu, South Koreain 2011.