Pakistani runners in Berlin Marathon 2026 left a strong mark at the 52nd edition of the race on Sunday, with around two dozen Pakistani and Pakistani-origin athletes taking part, led by Muhammad Uzair Butt who clocked the fastest time among them on his marathon debut.
Butt, who was born in Lahore and now lives in Boston, United States, completed the 42.195-kilometre race in three hours, 21 minutes and 27 seconds, according to runners tracked by Geo News. The healthcare consultant made a fast start, covering the opening five kilometres in 21:21 and reaching 10km in 42:43. He crossed the halfway point in 1:30:38, though his pace dropped after the halfway stage, particularly between 25km and 30km. He still managed the closing stages to finish well inside three-and-a-half hours.
Speaking to Geo News, Butt said crossing the finish line in Berlin while carrying the Pakistan flag made his marathon debut particularly memorable. “I’m incredibly grateful for this experience,” he said. “Crossing that finish line in Berlin was a very special moment for me, especially because this race marks the beginning of a new chapter in my journey as a hybrid athlete and as a runner.” He added that the crowds and support along the route helped him through the difficult stages, and that hearing the support while carrying the Pakistani flag was something he would never forget.
Mohammed Samad Siddiqui, a British-Pakistani runner, was the second fastest in 3:25:44. Karachi-based 19-year-old Munir Imran produced an impressive negative-split performance to finish in 3:45:07. Bilal Umar completed the race in 3:47:09, followed by Canada-based Saif Ullah in 3:48:10. The Berlin Marathon, one of the world’s biggest road races, attracted more than 56,000 athletes from over 160 countries for its 52nd edition.
Munir, a member of the WNP running club, ran a controlled race and reached halfway in 1:53:39 before completing the second half in approximately 1:51:28 for a negative split. His pace remained consistent deep into the race. He covered the 30-35km section in 26:41, the next five kilometres in 26:21 and accelerated over the final 2.195km, completing that stretch in 11:03.
The race was also memorable for Maheen Sheikh, who finished in 3:56:08 to complete all six of the original World Marathon Majors and earn the Six Star medal. Sheikh completed her Six Star journey in two years and five months, with Berlin being her seventh full marathon in less than three years. She said the flat Berlin course offered the potential for fast running, but the large field made it difficult to settle into a rhythm.
“I was dealing with some gut issues going into the race, so I had calibrated my expectations accordingly,” Maheen told Geo News. “It was a flat course, but the field was very crowded overall, so settling into a rhythm was a struggle. The weather was good at the beginning, and it was breezy at times, although the sun got quite strong towards the end.”
For Sheikh, the Six Star medal also represented a transformation that began only a few years ago. She said she went from the couch to completing her first marathon after just 13 weeks of training in late 2023. That first race was not a Major and, at the time, she said she did not even know what earning the Six Star medal meant.
“I had a childhood leg injury, so I didn’t grow up playing sports and never really saw myself as an athlete,” she said. “Pursuing the Six Stars has completely reset that mindset. My mind and body are at their strongest now, and completing all six feels like proof of how much can change when you challenge the limits you once put on yourself.”
Ayesha Akhtar, a Pakistani-American runner, also completed her Six Star journey in the same race, adding to the Pakistani presence at the event.
Source: Geo News