In the first, Andre De Grasse believed he had anchored Canada to a brilliant gold in the 4x100 metres - seemingly a third for him personally following his 100 and 200m double - only for the home quartet to be disqualified after first-leg runner Gavin Smellie was adjudged to have stepped out of his lane.

This handed gold to the United States in 38.27sec ahead of Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago to sit alongside US victories in both the women's races.

While the shorter relay was dramatic for what happened afterwards, the men's 4x400m that concluded the evening was memorable for a magnificent finish from Trinidadian Machel Cedenio, the 19-year-old individual silver medallist.

After entering the home straight in third place he somehow overhauled eventual silver medallists Cuba and the US to snatch a last gasp gold for the Caribbean country in 2min 59.60sec.

It brought to an end a highly successful week of track and field athletics, with other highlights tonight including a 2.37 metres high jump from Olympic bronze medallist Derek Drouin to win ahead of Canadian team-mate Mike Mason.

Mexico's Juan Luis Barrios also edged an last-lap burn-up in the men's 5,000m to out-kick US rival David Torrence to the line in 13:47.47.

A drama of a different kind was unfolding in the handball as two of sport's best known rivals locked horns in a repeat of the last three Pan American Games finals.

Brazil won at Santa Domingo 2003 and Rio 2007 before Argentina edged them four years ago in Guadalajara and there appeared nothing between the teams at all this time around.

With scores level at 24-24 in the final minute of the game, Brazil had two goals ruled out before a penalty shot was brilliantly saved by Matias Schulz to take the contest to an overtime period.

Once again it was next year's Olympic host country who moved ahead, capitalising on some Argentinean misses to move 29-27.

They then withstood a final flurry of attacks to edge home before jubilant celebrations began. 

Medals were secured in 15 sports today on a frenetic final full day of sporting action at these Games. 

There was plenty of Canadian success as cyclist Jasmin Glaesser secured her fourth medal and second gold in the women's road race before Venezuela's Miguel Ubeto, returning from a two-year doping ban, won the men's event.

Other home highlights included a first gold in fencing after a bitterly fought 38-37 win over the US in the women's team foil final.

There were as two women's boxing wins for Mandy Bujold and Caroline Veyre.

There was a defeat, however, to Brazil in the men's basketball final and to Argentina in the men's hockey final.

Elsewhere, Julio La Cruz, Lenier Pero and Lazaro Alvarez each secured Cuban golds in boxing in the respective under 60 kilogram, under 81kg and over 91kg finals to cement the country's dominance in the men's side of the sport. 

There was also a US win over Brazil in the women's volleyball final.

The same two countries shared golds tonight in singles table tennis courtesy of Chinese-born American Wu Yue in the women's event and South American rising star Hugo Calderono in the men's. 

Action is due to continue for a final time tomorrow with six sports to be contested ahead of the Closing Ceremony in the evening.

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