ProPakistaniTimes.com - Latest Pakistani News Updates, Headlines & Information Today

The photo collage shows Pakistani runners Faisal Shafi (left) and Yasir Memon. – Reporter

Pakistani runners from around the world put in impressive performances at the 2025 Chicago Marathon – one of the seven World Marathon Majors – which attracted more than 53,000 participants this year.

The race featured a vibrant contingent of Pakistani athletes, including competitors from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, as well as dual nationals and expatriates from the United States, United Kingdom, Norway and the Gulf region, all of whom proudly carried the green flag through the 42.195-kilometer Chicago course.

Leading the Pakistani contingent was Syed Ali Hamza, a Pakistani-American based in Villanova, Pennsylvania, who completed the race in two hours, 55 minutes and 14 seconds, making him the fastest Pakistani finisher. He was followed by another American runner of Pakistani descent, Salman Ilyas, who clocked 2:56:39, and Nizar Nayani, who finished in 2:57:43.

Nayani said running under the Pakistani flag added special meaning to his achievement.

Expatriate runners of Pakistani descent pose for a group photo after participating in the 2025 Chicago Marathon. – Reporter

“Running a marathon is a challenge for yourself, and especially crossing the finish line and being able to perform as a Pakistani runner makes it all worth it,” he said.

Among those who traveled from Pakistan, one of the country’s top marathoners, Faisal Shafi from Karachi, stood out with a time of 3:18:52, making him the fastest runner from Pakistan this year. Shafi, a seasoned marathoner and already a seven-star winner, said he went into the race with a specific pacing strategy and achieved a personal milestone.

“I wanted to experiment with pace in the second half,” he said. “I kept my pace in the first 20-25 kilometers and went faster later. This will remain my most memorable run because I ran my second half faster than my first, something rare in long-distance running. I am happy and proud of my performance.”

Another highlight from Pakistan was Karachi’s Dania Ali, who made her World Marathon Major debut in Chicago. While training on the streets of Karachi, she achieved her personal best with a time of 4:45:07, marking a remarkable milestone in her running journey. Her performance drew admiration from the local running community.

American-Pakistani marathoner Nizar Nayani shows his medal after finishing the Chicago Marathon. – Reporter

Among women, American Aisha Qamar from Brooklyn was the fastest female Pakistani runner with a time of 3:00:51, while British Maheen Suleman Sheikh from London clocked a time of 3:55:29. Karachi’s Sana Malik completed the race in 4:26:27 and described the atmosphere in Chicago as unforgettable.

“I think it went great,” Sana said. “I have never experienced an audience like Chicago’s. This was an experience I will never forget for decades, and I will continue to work hard to show up better.”

Several other Pakistan-based runners also put up commendable performances, including Bilal Umar (3:39:29), Shah Faisal Khan (3:57:36), Safdar Ali (4:06:45), Yasir Suleman Memon (4:18:40) and Muhammad Tajdar Iqbal (4:21:08) from Karachi, along with Muhammad Yawar Siddiqui (3:45:26) from Islamabad and Saood Hamid (5:20:05) from Lahore.

Pakistani runners from abroad also made their presence felt. Notable finishers included Osman Sarood (Pakistani-American, San Jose) in 3:44:59, Atiq Ul Hassan (Franklin) in 3:47:43, Abbas Naqvi (US-based) in 4:12:34 and Imran Zaffar (British-Pakistani) in 4:37:31.

A special moment occurred when Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, completed the marathon in 4:59:25 on his 54th birthday. He was greeted by followers along the route with chants of “Happy Birthday!”.

Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo won the men’s elite title in 2:02:23, followed by Kenyan Amos Kipruto (2:03:54) and Alex Masai (2:04:37). In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa Gejia won in 2:14:56, ahead of Megertu Alemu (2:17:18) and Tanzania’s Magdalena Shauri (2:18:03).

From Villanova to Karachi and from London to Riyadh, this year’s Chicago Marathon showcased the strength, unity and spirit of Pakistani runners around the world. Their performances not only reflected individual excellence but also highlighted Pakistan’s growing footprint in the global marathon scene.