Pakistani Runners Shine at the 2026 New York City Marathon

A total of 29 Pakistani and Pakistani-origin runners completed the 2026 New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 1, with Karachi's Amin Nadeem Mukaty recording the fastest time among the Pakistani participants. The annual event drew athletes from around the globe to test their endurance across the iconic American metropolis.

Mukaty completed the 42.195-kilometer race in 2 hours, 53 minutes, and 42 seconds, becoming the only Pakistani runner in the group to finish in under three hours. His stellar performance placed him at the front of a diverse contingent representing their homeland and heritage on an international stage.

Milestones Achieved in the Six Star Journey

Meanwhile, Karachi's Sadiq Shah and Mohammad Junaid achieved another milestone by completing their Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star journeys. Earning the Six Star medal represents a massive dedication to long-distance running over several years, requiring athletes to finish six of the most prestigious marathons on earth.

Shah finished the marathon in 3:01:37, narrowly missing the three-hour mark, while Junaid crossed the finish line in 3:53:07. The Six Star medal is awarded to runners who complete all six major marathons held in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York.

Detailed Breakdown of Amin Nadeem Mukaty's Run

According to race-tracking data, Mukaty covered the first 5 kilometers in 20:44 and reached the 10-kilometer mark in 40:32. His steady pacing strategy allowed him to maintain strong momentum through the early stages of the grueling course.

He completed the first half in 1:25:25, passed the 20-mile checkpoint in 2:12:00, and reached 40 kilometers in 2:44:31. He finished the second half in approximately 1:28:17, maintaining a relatively consistent pace, with a difference of just 2 minutes and 52 seconds between the two halves.

Performances Across the Pakistani Contingent

Among other Pakistani runners, Multan's Fahd Mukhtar finished in 3:16:23, followed by Cincinnati-based Jamal Shah in 3:23:25 and Brooklyn-based Bsherri Anjum in 3:35:05. Each athlete faced the demanding course conditions with careful preparation and resolve.

Dr. Safdar Ali Sheikh completed the race in 3:52:53, while New York-based Jihan Khan recorded 3:53:34. Aamar Butt finished in 4:00:45, followed by Afnan Ahmed in 4:01:32 and Danish Raza in 4:01:34. Additional results include Shah Faisal Khan at 4:13:42, Fahad Qureshi at 4:19:15, Azeem Sarwar at 4:19:18, and Rafay Ansari at 4:19:18.

Further down the finisher list, Anas Junaid Ghani clocked 4:25:57, Imran Zaffar finished in 4:25:59, Naveed Hussain reached the end in 4:30:34, and Hina Malik finished in 4:34:38. Kamran Lakhany recorded 4:36:06, Hassan Ladhubhai finished in 4:45:10, and Saba Khan crossed in 4:55:32.

Rounding out the group were Yousaf Aslam at 5:22:08, Yusra Bokhari at 5:28:04, Hassan Madni at 5:28:29, Dr. Saad Usmani at 5:50:09, Aylia Zaidi at 5:51:22, Mohammad Yousaf Malik at 6:03:51, and Maimoona Hamdani at 6:04:10.

Geographic Diversity and Professional Backgrounds

The Pakistani contingent included runners from Karachi, Multan, and Islamabad, alongside overseas Pakistanis based in the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, and other countries. This mix highlighted a global community of expatriates and local athletes united by their passion for distance running.

Participants came from different professional backgrounds, including medical professionals, experienced marathon runners, and individuals balancing their training with work and family commitments. Fitting rigorous training schedules into busy everyday lives required immense personal discipline and early morning practice sessions.

Experience Levels and Course Route

Several runners were participating in the event for the first time, while others had competed in previous editions. Aamar Butt was scheduled to make his ninth appearance at the New York City Marathon, while Fahd Mukhtar was preparing for his third, showing deep familiarity with the race environment.

The marathon took participants through all five boroughs of New York City, starting in Staten Island and passing through Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx before finishing in Central Park. The historic course challenged athletes with varying terrain, massive crowds, and legendary bridge climbs.