By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
TANIA Tan of the NMI has officially ignited her 2026 campaign, trading the rugged trails of cross country for the high-speed curves of the short track and delivering a statement performance at the NYRR Night at the Races in New York.
Competing in the mile event, Tan clocked a blistering personal best of 5:19.28 to set a high bar for the season ahead.
Known primarily for her dominance in long-distance events — holding CNMI records in the 3,000m, 5,000m, and 10,000m — Tan’s move to shorter distances this season was a calculated one.
“I just wanted to see what I can run in the shorter distance races because I usually never get to run those distances in other competitions. It was fun!” said Tan.
Her focus on the mile and shorter track events is part of a larger strategy to build speed as she chases qualifying standards for the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships in Darwin, Australia.
Tan entered the NYRR race specifically targeting a sub-5:20 time and delivered on that promise. “That was my goal — sub 5:20 — and I was surprised to do it in my season opener,” she said.
The 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships, scheduled for May 18–23 in Darwin, represent the pinnacle of the regional calendar. Tan is currently focused on securing her place in the 5,000m, an event where she has previously achieved immense success.
Despite her early-season triumph, Tan remains grounded and flexible regarding her upcoming schedule. “I haven’t figured out my race calendar yet. If you know me and my family, we always plan things last minute,” she said, laughing. “So we’ll see what the future holds!”
James Sablan has been a sports reporter for Variety since 2013. He was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College and covers all local sports.
