By James Sablan
james@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
ON Jan. 10, NMI’s Tania Tan and Victor Nash Santos will test their skills on the global stage as they compete in the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships, which returns to the United States at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida.
Santos, a rising star in distance running, is about to achieve a personal milestone — a goal he has been preparing for since first dreaming of the world stage. “I always knew I wanted to compete in world competitions like this and represent NMI,” Santos said during an interview with Variety. “When I first heard about this opportunity, I felt blessed. Coach Robin has been encouraging me since the beginning. It gives me a great sense of pride, and I don’t want to waste such an opportunity that I know others wish for.”
Santos’ preparation has been anything but smooth. While fans see the glory on race day, his recent months have been defined by a battle between balancing a rigorous school schedule and fighting off severe fevers and lingering injuries — the road to the World Cross Country testing his mental fortitude as much as his physical endurance.
“It’s been a struggle truly being able to prepare the way I wanted to — through beach runs, hill repeats, and longer weekly mileage,” Santos shared. Despite these setbacks, he is pivoting his strategy to focus on quality over quantity, using easy long runs and incorporating track workouts to regain his rhythm. “The best thing I can do right now is feel like my old self again, get back mentally to the runner I was, and hopefully come back stronger,” he added.
Behind every elite athlete is a mountain of sacrifice. For Santos, that sacrifice is measured in time and energy as a student-athlete. “Sometimes it’s easy to quit or feel like you’re wasting your time,” he reflected. “But I wouldn’t be the person I am today without this gift. I owe it all to God for helping me push through, and to my friends, family, and coaches for their support.”
In his World Cross Country debut, Santos will compete in the U20 Men’s 8K event, facing the fastest young runners from around the world. But his primary goal is clear: to beat his personal best in only the second 8K race of his life. “I am competing with the best in the world, and there are runners who are way faster. I just want to focus on my ability, what I can control, and run hard,” Santos stated.
While Santos prepares for his debut, his teammate Tania Tan will be making her third World Cross Country appearance in the senior women’s 10K event.
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.
