SHUMI Dechasa kept the Bahrain flag flying high briefly on the first day of the World Athletics Championships in Beijing leading the marathon in the early stages and staying with the leading bunch for most of the race before finishing a credible fifth in 2:14.36.

Two other Bahrain runners Adem Ismail and Mahboob Ali did not finish the marathon.

Bahrain’s Aweke Ayalew finished 21st in the men’s 10,000 in a personal best of 29:14.55.

In the 3,000m steeple chase, Bahrain’s Nelson Kipkosgei Cherutich did not start the race in heat one while John Kibet Koech finished eight in 8:38.62 and failed to qualify for the next round.

Two Bahraini athletes will be seen in action on the second day today.

Oluwakemi Adekoya will be running in heat one of the women’s 400m hurdles at 5.25am. 

Abbas Abubakar Abbas will run in heat five of the men’s 400m at 6.42am.