PARIS – Penn State track & field sophomore Handal Roban concluded his first Olympic berth with an appearance in the men’s 800-meter repechage round Thursday morning.
The St. Vincent & the Grenadines had an outstanding showing in Paris. He began with a 1:46.00 in the 800m first round Wednesday morning. His mark was fourth in heat one, just 0.19 out of an auto-qualifying mark to the semifinals. Roban turned his attention to the repechage round and went out strong Thursday morning and posted an even better 1:45.80. Although his time failed to qualify for the semifinals, Roban showed that his talent belonged on the world’s biggest stage.
Roban was awarded a spot in this summer’s Olympics via a universality place and became Penn State track & field’s first-ever 800m Olympian. A four-time 800m All-American through his first two collegiate seasons, Roban is primed for a stellar junior year with the Blue & White in 2025.