Sports
Pakistani runners make their mark at 2025 Chicago Marathon
Pakistani runners from around the world put up strong performances at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, one of the seven World Marathon Majors, which drew more than 53,000 participants this year.
The event saw a diverse group of Pakistani athletes – from those based in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad to dual nationals and expatriates from the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, and the Gulf – proudly representing the green flag across 42.195 kilometres of Chicago’s streets.
Leading the Pakistani contingent was Syed Ali Hamza, a Pakistani-American based in Villanova, Pennsylvania, who completed the race in two hours, 55 minutes and 14 seconds, making him the fastest Pakistani finisher. He was followed by another USA-based runner of Pakistani origin, Salman Ilyas, who clocked 2:56:39, and Nizar Nayani, who finished in 2:57:43.
Nayani said running under the Pakistani banner added a special meaning to his achievement.
“Running a marathon is a self-challenge, and especially crossing the finish line and being able to represent as a Pakistani runner makes it all worth it,” he said.
Among those who travelled from Pakistan, one of the country’s top marathon runners, Faisal Shafi from Karachi, stood out with a time of 3:18:52, making him the fastest Pakistan-based runner this year. Shafi, a seasoned marathon runner and already a seven-star finisher, said he went into the race with a specific pacing strategy and achieved a personal milestone.
“I wanted to experiment with pacing in the second half,” he said. “I held my pace in the first 20–25 kilometres and then pushed harder later. This will remain my most memorable run because I ran my second half quicker than my first, something rare in long-distance running. I’m happy and proud of my performance.”
Another highlight from Pakistan was Dania Ali of Karachi, who made her World Marathon Major debut in Chicago. Training on the streets of Karachi, she achieved her personal record with a time of 4:45:07, marking a remarkable milestone in her running journey. Her achievement drew admiration from the local running community.
Among women, U.S.-based Aisha Qamar from Brooklyn was the fastest female Pakistani runner with a time of 3:00:51, while UK-based Maheen Suleman Sheikh, from London, clocked 3:55:29. Karachi’s Sana Malik completed the race in 4:26:27, describing the Chicago atmosphere as unforgettable.
“I think it went amazingly,” Sana said. “I’ve never experienced a crowd like Chicago’s. This was an experience to remember for decades, and I’ll keep working hard to show up better.”
Several other Pakistan-based runners also delivered commendable performances, including Bilal Umar (3:39:29), Shah Faisal Khan (3:57:36), Safdar Ali (4:06:45), Yasir Suleman Memon (4:18:40), and Muhammad Tajdar Iqbal (4:21:08) from Karachi, along with Muhammad Yawar Siddiqui (3:45:26) from Islamabad and Saood Hamid (5:20:05) from Lahore.
Pakistani runners from abroad also made their presence felt. Notable finishers included Osman Sarood (Pakistani-American, San Jose) in 3:44:59, Atiq Ul Hassan (Franklin) in 3:47:43, Abbas Naqvi (US-based) in 4:12:34, and Imran Zaffar (British-Pakistani) in 4:37:31.
A special moment came when Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, completed the marathon on his 54th birthday in 4:59:25. He was greeted by followers along the route with chants of “Happy Birthday!”.
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo won the men’s elite title in 2:02:23, followed by Kenya’s Amos Kipruto (2:03:54) and Alex Masai (2:04:37). In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa Gejia claimed victory in 2:14:56, ahead of Megertu Alemu (2:17:18) and Tanzania’s Magdalena Shauri (2:18:03).
From Villanova to Karachi and London to Riyadh, this year’s Chicago Marathon showcased the strength, unity, and spirit of Pakistani runners around the world. Their performances not only reflected individual excellence but also highlighted Pakistan’s growing footprint in the global marathon scene.
Chicago Marathon 2025: Pakistani Finishers Under 6 Hours
- Syed Ali Hamza PAK (USA) Villanova 2:55:14
- Salman Ilyas USA Sammamish 2:56:39
- Nizar Nayani USA Tomball 2:57:43
- Irtaza Haider PAK Evanston 3:00:50
- Aisha Qamar USA Brooklyn 3:00:51
- Faisal Shafi PAK Karachi 3:18:52
- Muhammad Shah PAK Cincinnati 3:23:12
- Bilal Umar PAK Karachi 3:39:29
- Khoula Ahmed NOR — 3:40:21
- Osman Sarood PAK (USA) San Jose 3:44:59
- Muhammad Yawar Siddiqui PAK Islamabad 3:45:26
- Atiq Ul Hassan PAK (USA) Franklin 3:47:43
- Maheen Suleman Sheikh PAK (GBR) London 3:55:29
- Shah Faisal Khan PAK Karachi 3:57:36
- Basil Khan PAK Chicago 4:02:17
- Safdar Ali PAK Karachi 4:06:45
- Babar Ghias USA Chicago 4:11:41
- Abbas Naqvi PAK (USA) Islamabad 4:12:34
- Adnan Afzal USA Spring 4:14:42
- Saba Lodhi PAK Wenatchee 4:17:00
- Yasir Suleman Memon PAK Karachi 4:18:40
- Muhammad Umer Shafiq PAK (USA) Islamabad 4:20:24
- Muhammad Tajdar Iqbal PAK Karachi 4:21:08
- Sana Malik PAK Karachi 4:26:27
- Khalid Sarfaraz PAK Abu Dhabi 4:36:46
- Imran Zaffar GBR Harrow 4:37:31
- Ghassan Tayyab PAK Naperville 4:42:45
- Dania Ali PAK Karachi 4:45:07
- Syed Ahsan Ejaz PAK Karachi 4:45:50
- Raja Arif Ullah Khan PAK Riyadh 4:49:56
- Muhammad Rizwan Khawaja USA Scottsdale 5:12:19
- Faraz Siddiqui PAK Weehawken 5:19:56
- Shazia Nawaz PAK (UAE) Lahore 5:20:05
- Saood Hamid PAK Lahore 5:20:05
- Usman Rao PAK (USA) Karachi 5:16:16
- Fawaz Qamar PAK Gujranwala 5:31:48
- Ahmed Khan PAK Bristol 5:47:47
- Muhammad Yousuf PAK Karachi 5:58:19
- Syeda Maimoona Hamdani PAK Karachi 5:58:31
Source: Website of Chicago Marathon
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Cameras showed former New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch in the team’s draft room Thursday night during the first round.
At one point, Tisch was seen standing near Giants head coach John Harbaugh. Despite no longer holding a majority stake in the NFL franchise, Tisch remains the Giants’ chairman of the board.
ESPN obtained an NFL memo last month detailing plans by Steve Tisch and his siblings to transfer their stake in the Giants to trusts for their children.
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New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch warms up before the NFL game between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Oct. 28, 2018. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)
“Prior transfers to these Trusts were completed pursuant to 2023 and 2024 Finance Committee approvals,” the memo stated. “The Sellers now propose to transfer their entire remaining interests, totaling 23.1% of the Club, to the Trusts. … Following the transactions, the Sellers will no longer own any interest in the Club.”
It was not clear if the transfer requests were in any way related to Tisch’s name appearing in the Epstein files released by the U.S. Justice Department in January. Tisch’s name came up more than 400 times in the files. Tisch at the time said he knew Epstein but denied visiting Epstein’s island.
As for draft night, the Giants made what some viewed as an unconventional pick at No. 10, selecting offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa.
Francis Mauigoa of Miami celebrates after being selected as the tenth overall pick by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Before that, the Giants added another piece to their pass rush, selecting hybrid edge/off-ball linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5.
Reese earned All-American honors at Ohio State and finished his first season as a full-time starter with 6.5 sacks.
Arvell Reese of Ohio State celebrates after being selected as the fifth overall pick by the New York Giants during the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa., on April 23, 2026. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
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Reese is set to join a pass rush that includes Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and, likely, Kayvon Thibodeaux.
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One of the most intriguing stories entering the first round of the NFL Draft was where Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson might land. Well, fans got their answer sooner than they expected.
The Los Angeles Rams surprisingly selected Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The selection isn’t completely out of left field and is arguably the best-case scenario for Simpson. The Rams have Matthew Stafford as their starter for 2026, but Stafford has flirted with the idea of retirement each of the past two offseasons. It’s clear the clock is ticking on his NFL career.
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The Los Angeles Rams pulled a stunner and drafted Alababam QB Ty Simpson with the No. 13 pick in the NFL Draft. (CFP/Getty Images)
Now, Simpson gets to sit behind one of the NFL’s best veteran quarterbacks, learn the position while adapting to life in the NFL, and not face immediate pressure to succeed. Additionally, the Rams are one of the most well-run franchises in the league right now. Sean McVay is an elite head coach who led the team to a Super Bowl victory to cap the 2021 season and just had the team within one win of another Super Bowl berth before falling to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship.
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The most surprising aspect is the Rams looking toward the future, quite frankly. This is a team that has had no problem trading away first-round picks to make its team the best it can be each season. It seemed most likely the team would use the No. 13 pick to improve its team for next season, which could be Stafford’s last. Instead, the team decided to put itself in position for Stafford’s retirement without skipping a beat.
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford, now 38-years-old, has flirted with retirement after each of the past two seasons. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
There were several surprises in the first 13 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft: the Cardinals taking Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love at No. 3, the Titans selecting Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate at No. 4, the Kansas City Chiefs trading up to take LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at No. 6 and even the Cowboys trading up one spot to make sure they drafted Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11.
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But the Rams completely abandoning their recent strategy (usually trading away first-round picks and loading up for now) to select Stafford’s heir apparent is easily the biggest early shock of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Sports
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner considering factors before debuting new alternate uniforms: report
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The choice for the New York Yankees to wear their new alternate uniform is ultimately up to owner Hal Steinbrenner, who has shown a knack for change in recent years.
And according to The Athletic, Steinbrenner and others in the front office will decide when the time is right based on some factors.
The outlet noted that economic impact, how often they’ll be worn, and how fans feel about the jerseys will all be key considerations in deciding if, and perhaps when, the jerseys will be worn.
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Manager Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees makes a pitching change during the fifth inning of a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida, on March 17, 2026. (Nick Cammett/Diamond Images)
Hours after The Athletic reported that players had gone to higher-ups about the idea, it was revealed that an alternate jersey had in fact been approved prior.
The Yankees’ navy blue batting practice tops, similar to their road spring training uniforms, were the ones that were approved to be worn in games.
The Yankees have taken part in wearing different jerseys in the past, including Players’ Weekend from 2017 through 2019, a nod to the 1912 team while playing in Boston on the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park’s opening, and jerseys commemorating the Black Yankees in 1996. The Yankees also wore replicas of their 1921 road uniforms for the first Field of Dreams game in 2021.
Paul Goldschmidt, Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger of the New York Yankees wait for the start of a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, on March 24, 2026. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
YANKEES ANNOUNCER SAYS TEAM SHOULD WIN A WORLD SERIES BEFORE BREAKING LONGSTANDING JERSEY TRADITION
However, none of those jerseys were ever officially put into the rotation, leaving them with just a home and road uniform from day one.
The Yankees also remain the only team to have no last names on the back of their jerseys, home or away, and they are also one of two teams, including the Athletics, without a City Connect jersey.
The Yankees added an advertisement patch on their jerseys in 2023, and beginning last year, “well-groomed” facial hair below the lip was reintroduced after a 50-year ban by Steinbrenner’s father, George.
Yankees players reportedly said they want the home pinstripes untouched and would wear the alternates on the road.
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees bats against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a spring training game at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, on March 23, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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The Yankees sell navy blue “shirseys” that mimic the tone of their spring training uniforms, but the pinstripes have been even more prevalent in home spring games in Florida.
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