Tania sets new outdoor record in 10,000m

Fordham University’s Tania Tan has two thumbs up after setting a new CNMI 10,000m outdoor record in last weekend in Metropolitan Outdoor Track and Field Championships.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

The CNMI’s Tania Tan set a new outdoor track record after this time finishing the 10,000m in 39:41 while competing for Fordham University in last weekend’s Metropolitan Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The record-setting run adds to the 20-year-old junior’s three national distance records—all set this year. She set the 5,000m outdoor record with a time of 18:51.02 at the 2022 Colonial Relays last April 1.

Last March 19, Tan also reset the 3,000m outdoor record with a time of 10:58.76 at the Stony Brook Snow Flake Classic, which bested her former record set at the Micronesian Championships on Saipan. The 5,000m indoor CNMI record also fell when she ran the distance with a time of 18:52:21 at the Metropolitan Championship last Feb. 4.

Tan told Saipan Tribune that she’s just happy to finish the race. “I’ve never raced a 10K on a track before so it was all new to me and I had no expectations going into the race…I didn’t feel as bad as I thought I would.”

The Run Saipan board member said running the 10,000m was tough both physically and mentally.

“Physically because it’s a long race (6.2 miles) but mentally as well because it’s 25 laps on the track. I had to be sure I was mentally prepared as well. It was very much a mental race so I had to stay tough and focus on the race itself and get through it lap by lap. But now that I’ve raced it once, I know what to expect next time so that will hopefully prepare myself better the next time,” she said.

Tan said the Fordham University track and field team is pretty much training every day and that—for all intents and purposes—serves as her training for the upcoming Northern Marianas Pacific Mini Games 2022.

“We train 6-7 days a week. The distances we run varies day to day, but probably an average of 6-7 miles a day.”

She said she’s not entirely sure yet what events she will partake in the Mini Games, which the CNMI will be hosting for the first time ever from June 17 to 25 this year.

“I’m thinking about the 5K, 10K, and possibly the half marathon. Also, I wanna say congrats to everyone who ran the 2022 Saipan Marathon! I’m so glad that we were able to have the event because it was one of my favorite events back home. I wish I could’ve been there to participate. Congrats to everyone!”

CNMI national track and field coach Dr. Ron Snyder congratulated Tan on her new record last weekend.

“We are very excited to see Tania branching out and excelling in other events. With her new NMI record in the 10,000m, I feel very confident that we will have a strong showing at the Mini Games and OAA Championships this year. On behalf of SIS, Northern Marianas Athletics and Run Saipan, I want to say how proud we are of Tania and her continued excellence!”

On Tan’s Mini Games stint, Snyder said they’re looking at entering her in the 10K and 5K with the 1,500m a probability.
“I would love to try her out in the steeplechase but it is the day before the 5,000 and that is too much risk of injury,” he added.