Brazilian runner Franck Caldeira took the lead in the final 2,500 meters to win the marathon on the last day of the Pan American Games on Sunday, according to AP. Caldeira charged past Guatemala's Amado Garcia to win in 2 hours, 14 minutes, 3 seconds. Garcia crossed the finish line 24 seconds behind, and Mexico's Procopio Franco was third with 2:15:18. «I made a good tactical run and that kept me in the race,» Caldeira said. «I was feeling well and had enough to take the lead in the end.» Caldeira, the defending champion of the traditional St. Silvester road race in Sao Paulo, took a Brazilian flag from a fan and put it on his back before crossing the finish line. He thanked the Brazilian fans for their support in strong rain and cold temperatures at the end of the race. «I want to share this medal with the Brazilian people,» the 24-year-old Caldeira said. «They helped me a lot, and they deserve 99 percent of this medal.» Two-time defending Pan Ams champion Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima _ who was tackled by a protester while leading the Olympic marathon in 2004 in Athens and returned to take bronze _ did not finish the race. Sunday's marathon kicked off the last day of the Rio games, which will finish with the United States comfortably ahead in the medal count with at least 97 golds. Cuba has secured second place with 59 and Brazil third with 52 _ the most ever for the country. The tennis singles and doubles finals also will be played Sunday after being postponed because of rain. The matches were transferred to an indoor court with no place for fans and not ready for TV coverage. Top-seeded Flavio Saretta of Brazil and second-seeded Adrian Garcia of Chile are in the singles finals. Brazil could win another gold in the men's basketball final against Puerto Rico later Sunday. Uruguay won bronze by beating Argentina 99-93 behind 24 points from Fernando Martinez. «Winning the bronze medal consolidated Uruguay's position as one of the three top basketball teams in South America,» Uruguay coach Alberto Espasandin said. «From now on, we'll have to reach the level of Brazil and Argentina.» The last equestrian competitions also will take place before the closing ceremonies, which will be held at Maracana stadium.
