TANIA Tan of the NMI broke another local record and set a new personal best in the Women’s 5000 event during the 2023 Riverhawk Invitational at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston, Massachusetts on Friday.
Tania Tan poses for a photo after breaking her personal best and the Women’s 5000 NMI record in the 2023 Riverhawk Invitational at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston, Massachusetts on Friday.
A student-athlete at Fordham University in New York City, Tan went up against 18 other runners and started the event in last place, but she slowly worked her way back up to the front of the pack and ended in second place with a time of 18:03.22.
It was “a nice surprise,” she said.
She recorded a new personal best and broke the NMI record — 50 seconds faster than her previous mark.
“It feels great to not only break another record, but to set a new personal best, because it shows that all the work I’ve been putting in is paying off,” Tan said. “The race was definitely a confidence booster, knowing that I am capable of running that time.”
She said the event tested her body and mind. “I was feeling pretty tired to be honest, from classes and the workouts we had before that, and our lift sessions,” Tan said. “So I tried to think positively to keep my nerves down and not let it get in my head.”
She added, “My coach had faith that I could run 18:10 in the 5K so I was mostly trying to run around 18:10. But I surprised myself and ran 18:03! It was kind of frustrating when I crossed the line because I was so close (only 3 seconds!) to breaking 18 minutes in the 5K but I am confident that I can break it next time.”
