By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
NMI track star Tania Tan completely rewrote the record books once again during the Oceania Half Marathon Championships and Gold Coast Marathon on Sunday in Gold Coast, Australia, blistering through the course in a spectacular time of 1:20:13 and shattering her previous NMI record by an astonishing 8 minutes and 27 seconds, erasing her benchmark of 1:28:40 set at the Pacific Mini Games on July 9, 2025, in Koror, Palau.
Tan’s previous record was a historic achievement for the NMI, but it came under immense physical duress, with her half-marathon victory following back-to-back races in the 5K and 10K at the Pacific Mini Games. This time in Australia, however, marked her first true opportunity to toe the starting line for a half marathon on fresh legs.
“I think today was a perfect day to race,” Tan said. “The weather was good and the vibes overall were amazing. This was my first time racing a half marathon on fresh legs. I knew I could run faster today. I didn’t expect to run more than eight minutes faster though!”
The dramatic improvement between her previous record and her new 1:20:13 mark underscores a remarkable leap forward in her running career.
For Tan, the breakthrough performance was about more than the numbers on the clock — it was about validation. Although she has set and rewritten several records throughout her career, this performance carried even greater significance.
“I think this one feels especially special because I knew I was capable of running much faster than 1:28 in the half, but I just never had the chance to do it,” Tan said.
The historic run on the Gold Coast adds to what has already been an extraordinary season of dominance for Tan. The long-distance specialist has steadily been rewriting NMI records across multiple surfaces and distances, demonstrating remarkable versatility from the track to the roads and further solidifying her status as one of the most formidable endurance athletes to represent the NMI.
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.
