Terrific trio: silver for Simon and Landen; pb for Theo in Australia

Team NMI’s boys were a blur of blue on the track today, starting with Simon Tang, who ran and hopped his way to silver in the 400m hurdles. Landen Taflinger also raced his way to silver and a national record in the 800m, while Theodore Rodgers set a new personal best in the 200m on Day 4 of the 2026 Oceania Athletics Championships today, Thursday, May 21, in Darwin, Australia.

With a field of three runners, Tang clocked in at 57.43 seconds, while Tonga’s Eric Tuiono settled for bronze with a time of 57.65. Gold also went to Tonga’s Mounga Leao with a time of 56.15.

Meanwhile, in the last race of the day, Taflinger, competing in a field of four runners, raced to silver with a time of 2:05.70. Although Team Hawai’i Athletics’ Mason Walker crossed the finish line first at 2:02.22, Team Hawai’i athletes do not place in the official standings because they are competing by invitation only and are not a member federation. As a result, gold went to Guam’s Rynier Di Ramos, who finished in 2:02.40.

Rodgers, meanwhile, ran in Heat 2 of the 200m and clocked a personal best time of 23.67 seconds.

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, May 19, 16-year-old Addalee Taflinger set a personal best by a couple of seconds in the Women’s U18 1,500m after clocking 5:28.32. Meanwhile, Tania Tan came close to breaking the national record in the 1,500m with a time of 4:55.79.

On opening day Monday, May 18, Taflinger made her international debut for the CNMI in the Women’s U18 800m and finished in 2:31.55. In the field events, NMI record-holder and Micronesian Games gold medalist Maria Quitugua recorded a best throw of 32.44m on her first attempt.

Tomorrow, Tang takes on the 110m hurdles, Landen returns to the track for the 1,500m, and Tan looks to chase a medal or possibly a record in the 5,000m.

Stay tuned for the full story as the championships continue through May 23.