US-based Nizar Nayani emerged as the fastest Pakistani runner at the 2026 Chicago Marathon, completing the 42.195-kilometer race in 3:00:45, just 45 seconds short of breaking the three-hour barrier.
Nayani, who lives in Tomball, Texas, led a group of runners from Pakistan and the Pakistani diaspora who participated in one of the world’s most prestigious marathons.
Karachi-based Mustafa was the second-fastest Pakistani runner, finishing in 3:29:18, followed by Brooklyn-based Basherri Anjum, who clocked 3:31:01 to become the fastest Pakistani woman among the identified participants.
Abu-Bakr Mohammad Afzal completed the race in 3:32:39, while Pakistani-American Babar Ghias finished in 3:42:44.
Nayani started strongly, covering the first 5 kilometers in 20:16 and reaching the 10-kilometer mark in 40:22. He completed the first half in 1:25:41, putting him on track for a sub-three-hour finish.
However, his pace dropped in the second half. He reached 30 kilometers in 2:03:49 and 40 kilometers in 2:50:24 before crossing the finish line in 3:00:45.
Speaking after the race, Nayani said the Chicago Marathon remained special to him regardless of the result.
“Chicago Marathon is always very close to my heart, no matter the results, no matter the conditions. I will keep coming back as long as Allah allows me to, and if I’m in shape,” he said.
“Today was not ideal conditions, but this is what 26.2 miles does to you. It brings every single grit out of you,” he added.
Nayani also expressed pride in representing the Pakistani contingent and praised his fellow runners.
Meanwhile, Anjum led the Pakistani women, covering the first 5 kilometers in 23:49 and the opening 10 kilometers in 47:35. She reached the halfway mark in 1:41:34 before slowing in the latter stages.
She completed 30 kilometers in 2:26:35 and reached 40 kilometers in 3:19:43 before finishing in 3:31:01, ahead of other Pakistani women whose results were available, including Sara Rathore, Zara Ordonez, and British-Pakistani Wardah Mir.
Several other Pakistani runners also completed the marathon. Riyadh-based Ibrahim Abdul Khaliq finished in 3:44:01, while Lahore’s Hamid Butt, a six-star marathon finisher competing in the 65–69 age category, recorded 3:49:48.
Taimoor Malik completed the race in 4:05:34, followed by British-Pakistani Hassan Ali in 4:14:55 and Austin-based Basil Khan in 4:16:56. Sara Rathore finished in 4:22:06, while Amaad Shaikh clocked 4:38:09.
Among the other finishers, Wardah Mir recorded 5:03:55, Ghassan Tayyab 5:12:21, Zara Ordonez 5:16:36, Hasan Saleem 5:17:05, and Danyal Ameer Lakdawala 5:18:06.
Karachi-based Anis Kasmani completed the race in 5:25:00, followed by British-Pakistani Hamad Ali in 5:29:05, Ahmad Zubair in 5:32:08, and Karachi’s Aisha Intesar in 5:35:14.
Former British diplomat to Pakistan Mike Nithavrianakis also participated, finishing in 3:18:04. He ran to raise funds for The Citizens Foundation (TCF), which supports education for underprivileged children in Pakistan.
The Chicago Marathon, held on October 11, attracted more than 55,000 runners this year. One of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, the event is known for its flat and fast course, which attracts runners aiming for personal bests and qualifying times for other major marathons.
The race began and ended in Grant Park, with participants running through 29 Chicago neighborhoods, including downtown, northern, western, and southern parts of the city.
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