Chinese Taipei claimed the top two spots on the podium in the women's event as Hsuan Yi Liu came home for gold after the 26.2 mile slog.

Silver went to her compatriot Yu Ting Huang as Clemence Halbout raced to bronze for France.

In the men's race, Juan Cruz Araldi of Argentina was crowned as marathon champion as he took gold.

New Zealander Michael Peter took the silver medal ahead of Italy's bronze medallist Bugari Riccardo.

Although Colombia failed to win a medal in the final two races, the South American country dominated the medal table, winning 20 gold medals in a total haul of 45 over the course of the Championships.

France followed in second with six golds, with Italy third with five.

Thirteen countries won at least one gold medal, with hosts China improving on their performance last year - when they won just one medal - by clinching six this time around.

Their haul consisted of one gold, three silvers and two bronze.

In all, 415 athletes competed in Nanjing from 40 countries and five continents.