Jamal completes 39 loops in Backyard Ultra-World Team Championship

KARACHI: The Backyard Ultra-World Team Championship 2024 finished on Friday after starting simultaneously across 63 countries and 6 continents.

In Pakistan, the event was organised by the Margalla Trail Runners at Margalla Hills in Islamabad. Thirteen ultra-marathon runners from across the country participated in this international event.

The Backyard Ultra is a unique ultramarathon where runners must complete 6.706 kilometers (4.167 miles) each hour. The race continues until only one runner can finish a lap; that runner is declared the winner, while all others receive a “Did Not Finish” (DNF) status. Jamal Said completed 39 laps, covering a total distance of 241.42 kilometers (162.513 miles) in 39 hours, earning the title of Backyard Ultra-World Team Champion of Pakistan, as his runner-up competitor was unable to finish his last lap within an hour. Umaira Sheeraz shattered the previous record by completing an astonishing 25 loops, surpassing the remarkable 24 loops set by Cristina.

This marks Jamal’s third consecutive win as National Champion in Pakistan for this event. Neil Hawkins, the Australian High Commissioner in Pakistan, sponsored Jamal Said and was present to support the participants, even joining them in the race.