Pakistani runners from different parts of the world participated in the Chicago Marathon 2026 in the United States, delivering notable performances across the 42.195-kilometre course. Texas-based Nizar Niani emerged as one of the leading Pakistani participants, completing the race in 3 hours and 45 seconds. He narrowly missed his goal of finishing in under three hours by just 46 seconds.
Niani maintained a strong pace during the early stages, completing the first 10 kilometres in 40 minutes and 22 seconds and reaching the halfway point in 1 hour, 25 minutes and 41 seconds. However, his pace slowed during the second half, preventing him from achieving his sub-three-hour target. After the race, he described Chicago as a special event and said he hoped to continue participating as long as his health and circumstances allowed.
Karachi’s Mustafa completed the marathon in 3 hours, 29 minutes and 18 seconds. Among Pakistani women, New York-based Bushra Anjum recorded the leading performance, finishing in 3 hours, 31 minutes and 1 second. She had completed the half-marathon distance in 1 hour, 41 minutes and 34 seconds before slowing in the second half. Abubakar Muhammad Afzal finished in 3:32:39, while Pakistani-American Babar Ghiyas crossed the line in 3:42:44.
Other participants included Ibrahim Abdulkhaliq of Riyadh, who finished in 3:44:01, and 67-year-old Lahore runner Butt, who recorded 3:49:48. Taimur Malik completed the course in 4:05:34, followed by British Pakistani Hasan Ali in 4:14:55 and Basil Khan in 4:16:56. Sarah Rathore finished in 4:22:06, while several other Pakistani and British Pakistani runners completed the demanding race in times ranging from approximately four and a half to five and a half hours.
Former British diplomat Mike Nethavrianakis, who previously served in Pakistan, also participated in the event, finishing in 3 hours, 18 minutes and 4 seconds. He ran to raise donations for The Citizens Foundation, an organisation working to improve access to education in Pakistan. His participation highlighted how major sporting events can also provide a platform for charitable fundraising and social causes.
The Chicago Marathon is one of the world’s major marathon events and forms part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors series. According to the supplied report, more than 55,000 runners participated this year. The 42.195-kilometre course began and ended at Grant Park, taking participants through 29 neighbourhoods across Chicago.
Kenya’s Amos Kipruto won the men’s elite race in 2:01:09, ahead of Ethiopia’s Tadese Bekele, who finished in 2:02:56, and Milkesa Mengesha in 2:03:46. In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa defended her title in 2:13:33. Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi finished second in 2:14:07, followed by Brigid Kosgei in 2:14:55. The reported results also marked a historic women’s race, with three athletes finishing under 2 hours and 15 minutes.
