Handal Roban of Penn State’s track and field team has been making waves on the international stage, breaking records and ascending to new heights in his athletic career

Handal Roban’s journey with Penn State’s track & field team began in the fall of 2022, and he was far from your average recruit.

Before joining the team, Roban already held the men’s 800-meter record for an entire country.

Roban hails from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a Caribbean island nation situated above Venezuela.

During his high school years, he shattered his home country’s 800-meter record with a time of 1:47.03, a record he has since broken multiple times.

Reflecting on his achievements, Roban shared with The Daily Collegian, “The first time I broke (the national record), I thought, ‘Wow, I’m that guy.’ As I continued, I realized that every time I break it, it’s going to be the national record now.”

Handal Roban, an outstanding track and field athlete, made a remarkable journey to Penn State and quickly became one of the program’s brightest stars. Before joining the Nittany Lions in 2022, Roban had already established himself as an exceptional athlete.

Roban originally hails from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a Caribbean island nation located above Venezuela. In high school, he broke his home country’s 800-meter record with a time of 1:47.03, a record he subsequently improved multiple times.

By the end of his first spring season at Penn State, Roban had earned the titles of two-time First Team All-American and two-time Big Ten Freshman of the Year. He also secured two NCAA Bronze medals, one in the indoor 800m and one in the outdoor 800m.

Roban’s rapid ascent in the world of track and field was due to his incredible work ethic and self-belief. Penn State track head coach John Gondak expressed his enthusiasm for having Roban on the team for three more years.

Roban’s track journey started in 2018, and he didn’t initially have a passion for the sport. However, as he began to improve and gain recognition, he realized the potential he had in the sport. He moved to Jamaica for high school in 2019, where he faced more significant competition and honed his skills both as an athlete and as an individual.

Despite his impressive achievements, Roban remained humble and focused on his goals, both academically and athletically. He chose Penn State for the opportunities it offered, emphasizing the importance of having a degree to fall back on if his track career didn’t pan out.

Coach Ryan Foster played a significant role in bringing Roban to Penn State and has since been one of his mentors. Roban appreciated the support of being a Penn State student-athlete but noted that the only downside was the cold weather.

In his freshman year running the 800, Roban achieved impressive times, ranking among the top athletes in Penn State track’s history. His success continued into the summer when he received an invitation to the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Roban finished the 800m race with a time of 1:46.86, ranking him No. 33 in the world.

Roban’s ultimate goal is to put his home country, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, on the map in the world of track and field. He aspires to be a global ambassador for his nation, much like Usain Bolt is for Jamaica.