Northern Mariana Islands Team Heads to Darwin Carrying Strength of Community

The Northern Mariana Islands will head to the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships in Darwin with more than just competition on their minds, as the team represents a community continuing to recover from the impact of Super Typhoon Sinlaku.

In the wake of the devastation, the championships offer a chance for the Northern Mariana Islands athletes to carry the spirit and resilience of their people onto the Oceania stage.

Leading the team is middle distance runner Tania Tan, who has been in outstanding form over the past year. Tan has rewritten much of the national record book across middle distance events, breaking four records in the past 12 months alone. She will line up in the 5000m in Darwin.

“It’s an incredible honour to represent the NMI on the regional stage, and it feels especially meaningful this time following Typhoon Sinlaku,” Tan said.

“Our island and community has been through a lot, and I’m proud to carry that resilience with me. My family, friends and community are all back home, and they’re constantly on my mind. I’m grateful for this opportunity and my goal is to compete with heart and represent our islands the best I can. No matter the result, I hope to make the NMI proud.”

In the field events, Maria Maelaine Quitugua will contest the women’s javelin after setting a new national record at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games.

The open team also includes US-based World Athletics Championships representative Theodore Rodgers, who will line up in the 200m.

In the Under 20 ranks, World Indoor Championships representative Simon Tang brings strong form into the 400m hurdles. Tang has recently broken both Under 20 and Open national records in the hurdles events and will be looking to continue that progress in Darwin.

The next generation will also take to the track, with Landen and Addalee Taflinger set to compete in the Under 18 and U20 events.

For the Northern Mariana Islands, the championships are about more than results, they are a chance to represent, to inspire, and to show the strength of a community pushing forward.

Follow Team NMI and Oceania Athletics across social media for updates throughout the championships.