KARACHI: US-based Nizar Nayani was the prominent Pakistani runner at the Chicago Marathon 2026, completing the 42.195-kilometre race in 3 hours and 45 seconds, as runners representing Pakistan and members of the Pakistani diaspora participated in one of the world’s most prestigious marathons.
Nayani, who lives in Tomball, Texas, narrowly missed the sub-three-hour marathon mark by just 46 seconds, leading the Pakistani contingent in the race.Karachi-based Mustafa was the second-fastest Pakistani runner, finishing in 3:29:18, while Brooklyn-based Basherri Anjum finished as the most prominent Pakistani woman and third-fastest overall among the Pakistani runners identified, clocking 3:31:01.
Abu-Bakr Mohammad Afzal followed with 3:32:39, while Pakistani-American Babar Ghias completed the marathon in 3:42:44.
An analysis of Nayani’s splits showed that he maintained a strong pace during the first half of the race, reaching the 5km mark in 20 minutes and 16 seconds and completing the first 10km in 40:22.
