A record number of Pakistanis took part in the London Marathon 2024 on Sunday in another boost to the running community in Pakistan.
The biggest number, 32, of Pakistani runners featured in the grand marathon, which had more than 50,000 participants, in London.
In 1981, the London Marathon was held for the first time and it is now among the most popular running event in the world. London's best landmarks, including Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Tower of London and Canary Wharf, are part of the route.
Pakistani runners from Karachi, Islamabad, Dubai, United States, United Kingdom and Norway were part of the prestigious marathon.
Two Pakistanis, Usman Muhammad and Aisha Qamar, ran a sub-three-hour marathon in an impressive achievement on the historic course.
One of the notable performances was of ‘Ironman’ Miqdad Mohammed. He ran almost eight minutes faster than Berlin. His Berlin time was 3:24:28 and he pulled off 3:15:46 in London Marathon 2024.
Journalist Rehman Azhar ran his third World major in London, followed by Berlin and Chicago in 2023, and crossed the finish line in 3:46:36.
Babar Ghias, the Pakistani expat from Chicago, is also on the track to complete his Six Star journey with London Marathon bringing him one step closer.
Co-founder of Islamabad Running Club (IRC), Bilal Ehsan, also featured in the London Marathon as his third world major after New York and Berlin. He notched up a time of 3:18:37.
IRC Members Yawar Siddiqui and Ammar Mumtaz also ran London Marathon 2024. Ammar Mumtaz could not join Tokyo Marathon 2024 because Japan did not issue visa to him.
Jevi Majid, a former ASICS frontrunner and now representing New Balance, was also present. She is a Norwegian of Pakistani descent who is working on promoting healthy lifestyle in South Asian women.
Couples, Uzma Abid and Abdul Samee and Yawar Siddqui and Nida Yawar, also joined London Marathon together.
UAE-based Pakistani marathon runner and fitness coach Sarah Lodhi was also one of the participants and registered an impressive time of 3:22:20. She has run four marathons, Munich, Dubai, Tokyo and Berlin, in the past. Apart from London, she will also take part in the Chicago marathon this year.
Australia-born Pakistani British banker Hira Diwan has now completed 5 stars in Abbott Marathon Majors program with her Tokyo Marathon in March 2024 with the time of 3:42:44. She completed London 2024 in 3:30:29.
British Pakistani Semeena Khan had a dual purpose at the London Marathon: leading the sub-five-hour group and advocating for diversity. Semeena proudly represented Pakistan and Pakistani-British community as the official sub-five-hour pacer at the London Marathon 2024, crossing the finish line in 4:59:49.
Jepchirchir, Mutiso clinched London Marathon 2024
Kenya's Alexander Munyao and Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir clinched the men’s and women’s London Marathon 2024.
Jepchirchir stole the limelight with world-record time of two hours 16 minutes and 16 seconds.
Meanwhile, Kenya's Munyao edged the great Kenenisa Bekele to win the men's event in 2:04:01.
Below is the list of top five men and women runners at London Marathon 2024.
Women
1. Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) -- 2:16:16
2. Tigst Assefa (ETH) -- 2:16:23
3. Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) -- 2:16:24
4. Megertu Alemu (ETH) -- 2:16:34
5. Brigid Kosgei (KEN) -- 2:19:02
Men
1. Alexander Munyao (KEN) -- 2:04:01
2. Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) -- 2:04:15
3. Emile Cairess (GBR) -- 2:06:46
4. Mahamed Mahamed (GBR) -- 2:07:05
5. Hassan Chahdi (FRA) -- 2:07:30
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