Syed Ali Hamza led the contingent with a personal best finish, showcasing remarkable endurance and composure
\n Chicago
\nPakistani runners from across the globe delivered impressive performances at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, one of the seven World Marathon Majors, which this year attracted more than 53,000 participants.
\nThe event featured a diverse group of Pakistani athletes from Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad to expatriates and dual nationals based in the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, and the Gulf, all proudly carrying the green flag over 42.195 kilometers through the streets of Chicago.
\nLeading the Pakistani contingent was Syed Ali Hamza, a Pakistani-American based in Villanova, Pennsylvania, who completed the race in 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 14 seconds, emerging as the fastest Pakistani finisher.
\nHe was followed by another USA-based runner of Pakistani origin, Salman Ilyas (2:56:39), and Nizar Nayani (2:57:43).
\nNayani said that running under Pakistan\u2019s banner added a special emotional value to his achievement.
\n\u201cRunning a marathon is a self-challenge, but crossing the finish line while representing Pakistan makes it all worth it,\u201d he told The News in an interview.
\nAmong those who traveled from Pakistan, Faisal Shafi from Karachi, one of the country\u2019s top marathoners, stood out with a time of 3:18:52, making him the fastest Pakistan-based runner this year.
\nA seasoned athlete and a seven-star finisher, Shafi said he executed his race with a specific pacing strategy and achieved a personal milestone.
\n\u201cI wanted to experiment with pacing in the second half,\u201d Shafi said. \u201cI maintained my rhythm for the first 20 to 25 kilometers and then pushed harder later. This was my most memorable run because I ran my second half faster than my first, something rare in long-distance running. I\u2019m proud of this performance.\u201d
\nAnother standout from Pakistan was Dania Ali from Karachi, who made her World Marathon Major debut in Chicago. Training on Karachi\u2019s streets, she achieved a personal best of 4:45:07, earning praise from the local running community for her determination and consistency.
\nAmong the women, Aisha Qamar, a US-based runner from Brooklyn, was the fastest female Pakistani finisher, completing the marathon in 3:00:51. She was followed by Maheen Suleman Sheikh from London (3:55:29), while Sana Malik from Karachi crossed the line in 4:26:27, describing the Chicago crowd as unforgettable.
\n\u201cIt went amazing,\u201d Sana said. \u201cI\u2019ve never experienced such a crowd before. Chicago\u2019s energy was electric, this is something I\u2019ll remember for decades. I\u2019ll keep training hard to come back even stronger.\u201d
\nSeveral other Pakistan-based runners turned in commendable efforts, 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) \u2014 all from Karachi.
\nMeanwhile, Muhammad Yawar Siddiqui from Islamabad finished in 3:45:26, and Saood Hamid from Lahore completed the course in 5:20:05.
\nPakistani expatriates also made their presence felt, with notable finishers including Osman Sarood (San Jose, 3:44:59), Atiq Ul Hassan (Franklin, 3:47:43), Abbas Naqvi (4:12:34), and Imran Zaffar (Harrow, UK, 4:37:31).
\nA special moment came when Prince Rahim Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, completed the marathon on his 54th birthday in 4:59:25, receiving cheers and chants of \u201cHappy Birthday!\u201d along the route.
\nIn the elite category, Uganda\u2019s Jacob Kiplimo claimed the men\u2019s title in 2:02:23, followed by Kenya\u2019s Amos Kipruto (2:03:54) and Alex Masai (2:04:37). Ethiopia\u2019s Hawi Feysa Gejia won the women\u2019s race in 2:14:56, ahead of Megertu Alemu (2:17:18) and Tanzania\u2019s Magdalena Shauri (2:18:03).
\nFrom Villanova to Karachi and London to Riyadh, this year\u2019s Chicago Marathon celebrated the strength, unity, and perseverance of Pakistani runners worldwide.
\nTheir performances not only reflected personal triumphs but also underscored Pakistan\u2019s growing presence in the global marathon scene.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Syed Ali Hamza led the contingent with a personal best finish, showcasing remarkable endurance and composure Chicago Pakistani runners from across the globe delivered impressive performances at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, one of the seven World Marathon Majors, which this year attracted more than 53,000 participants. The event featured a diverse group of Pakistani athletes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":508522,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-508511","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n