KARACHI, March 3: About 2,000 runners and health-conscious inhabitants of the city participated in the 13th Karachi City Marathon and Health Walk organized by the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Sunday.

Ex-Olympic runner Meesaq Rizvi took oath from the participants, while former wicket-keeper of Pakistan Cricket team, Waseem Bari, fired a shot as a signal to start the marathon, which commenced at the PMA House.

More than 1,000 runners covered the half city marathon during the event. Citizens between 16 and 90 years of age participated in the activity under different categories.

Khasta Badshah from Keamari of men’s category — aged between 16 and 45 years — took first position by setting a new record of 1:03 hour for covering the marathon. He was closely followed by Ishaq Mushtaq (Mehmoodabad) and Mujahid Ali (Model Colony) who covered the same distance in 1:04 hour and 1:04:17 hour respectively.

Zareen Naz from K-Area, Korangi, clinched the first position in the walk by consuming one hour and 45 minutes to reach the destination. Naseema from Gulberg covered the same distance in two hours and one minute and Ayesha Moin of Tariq Road took two hours and 24 minutes.

Sajjad (Gulshan-i- Iqbal), Salman (Keamari), and Wahaab (Bhutta Village) were the three first prize winners among the boys, covering the distance in 1:29, 1:32 and 1:38 hour respectively.

Mohammad Gulzar (Cantt Bazaar), Naeem Rashid (Keamari), and Haji Riaz ((Bhutta Village) were the winners belonging to elders’ category (46 to 90 years of age). They took one hour and 33 minutes, one hour and 48 minutes and one hour and 53 minutes for the same distance respectively.

Dr Meesaq Rizvi from Lahore, Dr Faisal Khan from PIB Colony and Dr Tauseef from Gulshan-i-Iqbal bagged the first three positions in doctors’ category.—APP