Pakistani marathon runner Faisal Shafi has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first locally based Pakistani runner to earn a provisional eighth marathon star at the 2026 Cape Town Marathon. The prestigious event attracted more than 27,000 runners from around the world and marked a major moment for Pakistan’s growing marathon community.
Shafi completed the challenging 42.195 kilometre race in an impressive 3 hours, 35 minutes, and 37 seconds. His achievement places him among a very small group of runners worldwide who have completed all major marathon stars. The Cape Town Marathon is currently in the candidacy phase to become an official Abbott World Marathon Major, which means finishers received a provisional eighth star that will become official once the race gains full Major status.
Speaking after the race, Faisal Shafi said he was proud to become the first runner living in Pakistan to reach this milestone. He explained that the achievement represents a huge step forward for Pakistan’s marathon culture and could inspire more athletes across the country to participate in long distance running.
Another standout performer was British Pakistani runner Huma Rehman, who finished the race in a remarkable 3 hours, 31 minutes, and 34 seconds. She became the first British Pakistani athlete to secure the provisional eighth marathon star. Her consistent pace and strong endurance made her one of the top performers among Pakistani origin runners.
Several other Pakistani runners also impressed during the marathon. Hina Shaukat achieved a personal best timing of 4:31:23, while Amina Sibtain completed her first ever marathon successfully. The event highlighted the growing popularity of marathon running in cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.
The Cape Town Marathon could soon become the first African race to join the elite World Marathon Majors series alongside races in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York, and Sydney. Pakistani runners believe achievements like these will motivate more people to take part in endurance sports and represent Pakistan globally.
