Pakistani Runners Excel at the 129th Boston Marathon

The Pakistani running community showcased its talent at the 129th Boston Marathon this past Monday. Amin Mukaty and Sara Lodhi stood out as the top male and female finishers from Pakistan in this renowned competition.

Mukaty, a 23-year-old runner from Karachi who qualified for the Boston Marathon, achieved an impressive time of 2:48:47 on the demanding course, which includes the notorious Heartbreak Hill. Mukaty shared on his Instagram, “Heartbreak Hill couldn’t break my heart. The Boston Marathon tested my limits, and I met the challenge. Proud to represent Pakistan on the world stage.”

Abdul Rehman, also from Karachi, closely followed, completing the race in 2:51:13. Rehman commented, “It was challenging with many hills, but I enjoyed it. I believe it was my best run, even better than my run in Berlin.”

Nizar Nayani, Omer Malik, and Sadiq Shah, who was running his second Boston Marathon, trailed the Karachi-based duo.

Sara Lodhi, 39, led the women’s team with a time of 3:24:46, marking her ninth marathon and fifth World Marathon Major. Lodhi, a mother of three residing in the UAE, shared a heartfelt reflection on her journey. “As a mother of three daughters, it’s very important for me to demonstrate that women are capable of achieving anything they focus on,” Lodhi stated. “They witness the dedication – waking up at 3 a.m. to train before their school day begins.”

Lodhi also mentioned that this is the pioneering generation of Pakistani women participating in marathons, and she feels privileged to be a part of this movement, adding, “Qualifying and performing well here has been a deeply humbling experience.”
Meanwhile, six Pakistani runners reached a significant milestone by becoming Six-Star Finishers, having successfully completed all Abbott World Marathon Majors. Those who received the Six-Star Finisher medal at Boston were Danish Elahi, Adnan Gandhi, Hira Diwan, Yusra Bokhari, Jamal Khan, and Nizar Nayani.

Elahi, who earned his sixth star in Boston, reflected on the deeper significance of his achievement. “It means everything to me. It’s not just a personal achievement but also a tribute to my family, especially my parents, wife, and kids, for their support throughout this journey,” Elahi explained. “It represents Pakistan on a global level and serves to inspire the younger generation within our local running community.”

Dr. Salman Khan, based in the USA and already a Six-Star Finisher, completed the Boston Marathon for the fifth time with a time of 3:24:45.

“Seeing all the Pakistani runners in Boston Marathon is a dream come true for me. With each and every year more and more Pakistani’s are representing their country at international venues. This is just wonderful,” said Dr Salman, who is also playing an important role in bringing all Pakistani origin runners from around the world under one platform.

The Pakistani contingent demonstrated impressive depth, with thirteen runners achieving sub-four-hour finishes:

  1. Amin Mukaty – 2:48:47
  2. Abdul Rehman – 2:51:13
  3. Nizar Nayani – 3:01:46
  4. Omer Malik – 3:05:40
  5. Sadiq Shah – 3:12:17
  6. Ayaz Abdulla – 3:15:06
  7. Salman Ilyas – 3:19:14
  8. Dr. Salman Khan – 3:24:45
  9. Sara Lodhi – 3:24:46
  10. Danish Elahi – 3:26:53
  11. Faisal Shafi – 3:26:55
  12. Aamer Butt – 3:39:56
  13. Jamal Khan – 3:57:56

Other finishers included Hira Diwan, Adnan Gandhi, Qamar Zia, Yusra Bokhari, and Dr. Ravia Bokhari.

The Boston Marathon, which was inaugurated in 1897, continues to be one of the world’s most esteemed marathons. This year’s competition included approximately 30,000 participants from across the globe. Pakistan’s remarkable presence underscores the country’s rising prominence in the world of international marathon running.