BERLIN, Germany: Pakistani runners delivered notable performances at the 2026 Berlin Marathon, with Muhammad Uzair Butt recording the fastest time among the group on his marathon debut, while Maheen Sheikh and Ayesha Akhtar completed the prestigious Six Star journey.
Around two dozen runners with Pakistani backgrounds participated in the 52nd edition of one of the world’s biggest road races, which attracted more than 56,000 athletes from over 160 countries.
Butt makes strong marathon debut
Lahore-born Muhammad Uzair Butt, who is based in Boston, completed the 42.195-kilometre race in 3 hours, 21 minutes and 27 seconds, becoming the fastest Pakistani runner tracked in the event.
Butt, a healthcare consultant, said crossing the finish line while carrying the Pakistan flag made his debut marathon experience particularly special.
“Crossing that finish line in Berlin was a very special moment for me,” Butt said, describing the race as the beginning of a new chapter in his journey as a runner.
ALSO READ: Pakistan Reach Asian Games Cricket Semi-Finals
British-Pakistani runner Mohammed Samad Siddiqui finished second among Pakistani participants with a time of 3:25:44, while Karachi-based 19-year-old Munir Imran completed the race in 3:45:07 after producing a strong second-half performance.
Bilal Umar and Canada-based Saif Ullah also finished under four hours, recording times of 3:47:09 and 3:48:10 respectively.
Sheikh and Akhtar complete Six Star journey
Maheen Sheikh marked a major milestone by completing all six original World Marathon Majors and earning the Six Star medal.
She finished the Berlin Marathon in 3:56:08, completing her Six Star journey in two years and five months.
Sheikh said the achievement represented a major personal transformation, as she moved from not considering herself an athlete to completing some of the world’s most recognised marathon events.
Ayesha Akhtar also completed her Six Star journey in Berlin, finishing the race in 4:53:33.
Pakistani runners celebrate achievements
Other Pakistani participants included Fatima Chaudhry, who finished in 4:59:09, Mehwish Hanif with 5:09:48 and Salima Ali with 5:28:17.
Karachi-based British-Pakistani runner Mohammad Tariq completed his first World Marathon Major in 5:02:52 while carrying a Palestinian flag and wearing a keffiyeh during the race.
At the elite level, Ethiopia dominated the event, with Guye Adola winning the men’s title in 2:02:50 and Tigst Assefa claiming the women’s race in 2:11:04.
