By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
DESPITE gusty winds and rain-slicked roads in Garapan, the 2026 Skechers Saipan Marathon witnessed a historic morning of racing Saturday as Victor Nash Santos and Tania Tan set new NMI records in the 5K. The race started and finished outside the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan.
While the event drew more than 700 participants from around the world, two of the NMI’s most decorated distance runners stole the spotlight by rewriting the record books on a World Athletics-certified course.
In the men’s 5K, Victor Nash Santos dominated the fast course, crossing the finish line in 18:09 to set a new NMI record. Bok Gwon-Il finished second in 22:09, while Zhaodian Gao placed third in 22:55.
Tania Tan delivered a standout performance in the women’s division, finishing second overall among all 5K runners with a time of 18:31, also a new NMI record. Kaithlyn Chavez took second place among the women in 21:42, followed by Tammy Ackerman in 22:55.
The significance of the performances was bolstered by the race’s status as a sanctioned Northern Marianas Athletics event. The course meets World Athletics standards for rankings and shoe regulations, ensuring the marks qualify as official NMI records.
The 10K race also featured strong competition.
In the men’s division, Ahn Euntae claimed first place with a time of 34:56, followed by Genta Saito in 36:48 and Ahn Younghwan in 37:45.
In the women’s division, Lee Yun-Ji led the field with a time of 44:12, while Park Minkyoung finished second in 47:23 and Baek Gi-Yoon placed third in 50:30.
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.
