Zarinae, Tania, Casey, Theo to rep NMI in OAC

Four of the CNMI’s finest and up-and-coming track stars are set to represent in the 2024 Oceania Athletics Championships in Suva, Fiji from June 1 to June 8.

The athletes are Tania Tan, fresh off breaking multiple records and personal bests; Zarinae Sapong, who recently broke her personal best in the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships; and Casey Cruz and Theodore Rodgers, young high school student-athletes who already have off island competition experience.

Tan, who is finishing up her last NCAA season in the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and broke two NMI records—the 5,000m and 10,000m, said she is grateful for the opportunity to represent the NMI once again.

“This is a bigger event so the competitors will also be more competitive. I’m hoping to just do my best, represent the NMI proudly, no matter what the result may be,” she said.

Sapong, who broke her personal best in the 60m in the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasnow, Scotland, said, “it is an incredible honor and I’m very happy to have been selected to represent the NMI at OAC.

This time around, Sapong is competing in the 100m and 200m events. On how her training is going, she said, “Lately training has been all about improving my reaction time and my running mechanics. In every competition my main goal is to apply all my training on race day, and to come out with a new personal best.”

She added, “I’m looking forward to seeing the team compete! I know they’ve been working so, so, so hard—we’ll all be there [to] support one another and I’m so excited for them!”

For Saipan Southern High School senior Cruz, who competed alongside Tan and Rodgers in the 2023 Pacific Games, she said being selected for the OAC is a blessing.

“Getting to go off-island and represent my country is something I love doing. I’m beyond grateful,” said Cruz who is also competing in the 100m and 200m events. Her goal is to beat her personal best times in both.

As for her training regimen, she said she trains daily except Sundays. “I hit the gym on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the morning, and on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, I’m at the track. It’s my routine to keep fit and focused,” she said.

On what she looks forward to in the event, Cruz said, “I’m excited to reconnect with familiar faces from previous off-island competitions and to make new acquaintances as well. I’m also eager to compete against faster runners as they inspire me to push myself harder on the track.”

For Grace Christian Academy student Rodgers, he said, “It’s an amazing feeling to be chosen to compete in the OAC. I’m grateful for this opportunity and excited to represent my team and country.”

Rodgers’ goal, like the rest of the team, is to achieve new PBs and potentially set new records. There, he is “anticipating the opportunity to meet fellow athletes at the OAC and making new friendships. Moreover, I’m excited to create new memories.”

According to NMA’s selection policy, it is based on an athlete’s performance, commitment and dedication, coach’s recommendation, and availability.

Athletes are evaluated based on their performance in sanctioned track and field events; the coach and selection committee, if applicable, will review athlete performances and make selections based on the established criteria; athletes who meet the criteria and are selected will be notified of their inclusion in the team; and athletes must meet World Athletics Eligibility Requirements in order to represent NMI.

The Oceania Athletic Championships was first held in 1990, at the National Stadium of Fiji in Suva. Since that first edition, the Championships have been held in eight different federations.