Click for more photos

China's Zhou Chunxiu (R) poses with her compatriot Zhu Xiaolin after they completed
the women's marathon at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championship in Osaka Sep 2, 2007.

China's Zhou Chunxiu claimed a silver marathon medal on Sunday at the 11th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.

This was the first time a Chinese athlete has won a marathon medal at the world Athletics Championships.

During the race Zhou Chunxiu stayed with the first group, but was passed by Kenya's veteran Catherine Ndereba in the final stage.

She finished in 2:30.45, eight seconds slower than Ndereba, who touched the finish line in 2:30:37.

Asian Games champion Zhou, is set for a prominent finish this year ahead of the Beijing Olympics, it's only hoped an injury will not plague the rising star.

"At the end, over the last two kilometres, my foot started to hurt," said Zhou. "One week before coming for the championships I injured the inner side of my right ankle. I received treatment and it got better. But this is one of the reasons why at the end I could not stick with Catherine Ndereba. The other reason is the weather here.

Catherine was very strong today. It feels okay to just have the silver medal."Japan's Reiko Tosa took third place and another Chinese girl, Zhu Xiaolin, came forth.