A year of new opportunities for NMI’s Theodore Rodgers

Theodore Rodgers of the Northern Mariana Islands is set to compete in the 100m at the World Athletics Championships, adding another milestone to a career that has already seen him represent his country at the Micronesia Games, Oceania Athletics Championships, Pacific Games, and Pacific Mini Games.

In a year of new opportunities, new school, new adventures, and a World Athletics Championships debut, Theo is ready to take on the challenge.

Rodgers’ passion for sprinting began at a young age, racing his brother to see who was faster. That sibling rivalry quickly grew into a lifelong love for the sport. “Representing my country and the Pacific is always a great honor and an amazing feeling. Every single time I get to compete for my country it’s exhilarating,” he said.

In the lead-up to the Championships, Rodgers has been training at a new facility off island, an opportunity that has brought both excitement and challenges. “It’s been great being able to train at a new facility, but it’s been hard without my coaches. The biggest challenge has been moving away for school and being away from my family and coaches.”

Despite the changes, Rodgers is motivated by the goal of continual progress. “My goal is always to keep improving and getting better, so I would love to PB,” he explained. Along the way, he’s eager to see some of the sport’s biggest stars, including Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek.

Off the track, Rodgers has another passion, vlogging. “I try to vlog every day, so I’m excited to vlog the whole entire experience of the World Champs,” he said with a smile. His advice for the next generation of Pacific athletes is simple but wise: “Keep being consistent with your training, but also find another hobby to avoid burning out.”

You can catch the 100m
11:23 100m Preliminary Round – 13 September
20:35 100m Heats – 13 September*
20:43 100m Semi-Finals – 14th September*
22:13 100m Finals – 14th September
*Pending Progressions

More information about the World Athletics Championships

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