Israr Khattak from Peshawar clinched victory in the second edition of the Karachi Marathon, finishing the full marathon in an impressive 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 58 seconds.
This outstanding performance secured him the top spot in Pakistan’s largest marathon event, which attracted both professional and amateur runners.
The event, recognized by World Athletics, took place on Sunday morning, with participants from across Pakistan and international runners from the United States, Poland, Japan, and Germany.
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Runners from cities like Islamabad, Karachi, and Quetta also took part in the event.
In the full marathon, Muhammad Riaz from Bahawalpur finished in second place, completing the race in 2 hours, 32 minutes, and 10 seconds. Meanwhile, in the half marathon, Muhammad Akhtar from Sahiwal took first place in 1 hour, 12 minutes, and 8 seconds.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Qasim from Sialkot and Muhammad Usman from Attock came in second and third, respectively.
In the women’s half marathon, Mumtaz Naimat from Gilgit emerged as the winner with a time of 1 hour, 43 minutes, and 0 seconds.
Race Director Shoaib Nizami highlighted the significance of the marathon, noting it offered local runners a chance to qualify for prestigious international events, such as the Boston Marathon.
He also praised the increased female participation, underscoring the event’s growing importance.
The marathon featured a 42.2-kilometer full marathon, a 21.1-kilometer half marathon, and a 5-kilometer fun race, with participants running along a route from Sea View to the Golf Club.
First-time participants, including Mustansar Bandooqwala, a hiker turned runner, and 66-year-old Mazhar Valjee, who described the event as a positive experience for Karachi, shared their inspiring stories.
