By James Sablan
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Variety News Staff
THE NMI will add a new face on the world stage as Simon Tang, a standout freshman from Oberlin College, has been officially selected by Northern Marianas Athletics to represent the islands at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland, scheduled for March 20–22.
For Tang, the call-up marks the culmination of a meteoric rise through the collegiate ranks and a testament to his resilience in the face of transition.
The selection comes on the heels of a historic performance at the North Coast Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, held Feb. 27–28, where Tang clocked a blistering 8.76 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles, shattering his previous personal best of 8.91 set in early January and moving into 10th place on Oberlin’s all-time list.
Despite the accolades, Tang admitted the journey wasn’t without its hurdles — both literal and mental.
“I had been trying to lower my time, but it didn’t go as planned because I hit a mental block,” Tang said. “I was thinking my way through my race instead of racing. My team and I are incredibly proud that we got through that hurdle and had a great end to our season, placing 12th in the indoor conference.”
After setting a new personal best, Tang said he feels strong and confident heading into Poland.
In a tactical shift for the world championships, Tang will step away from the barriers to compete in the 60-meter flat sprint. Though a seasoned 400-meter hurdler, he noted that the transition to a pure sprint has been challenging.
“The transition to flat sprinting has been quite difficult, but I’m planning to run an indoor last-chance meet to tune up a few small things,” Tang said. “I’ve also been training for flat sprints, including the 400 meters, since I’m a 400-meter hurdler. I’m incorporating that along with my block starts for hurdles.”
Tang said he feels incredibly blessed and grateful to wear the NMI colors in Poland, adding that the opportunity is about more than personal times — it’s about representing his home islands.
“Getting a chance to compete at the world level gives me hope and drive,” he said. “This competition will play a big role in challenging myself not only as an athlete but as a dreamer, and in giving me the confidence to know that the potential is endless.”
As Tang prepares for his final tune-ups before heading to Poland, his goal remains simple: to compete and push his body to its limits.
“I know I can improve with analysis, but it won’t come easy,” Tang said. “I know these athletes have spent their whole lives trying to improve their times.”
With the support of the NMI community and the momentum of a record-breaking collegiate season, Tang is ready to show the world that no dream is too small for an athlete from the Northern Marianas.
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.
