Handal Roban pouches double freshman accolades

Vincentian middle distance runner, Handal Roban, was last Tuesday, June 20, named the men’s recipient of the conference’s Freshman of the Year award, following the 2023 outdoor season.

The announcement was made by the United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)

Roban thus became first male award-winner during the outdoor season for Penn State University since

Robby Creese won in 2012, also in his freshman year.

Roban concluded his first season with Penn State with a third-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 800-metres run on June, 9.

The bronze medal was secondary, as his 1:45.95 was his personal best, the St Vincent and the Grenadines all time best, and the fourth fastest in Penn State’s history.

Last Tuesday’s announcement follows Roban’s attainment of top 800 metres indoor Freshman of the Year award in March of this year.

It has been a successful debut for Roban on the American circuit, as apart from lowering the national outdoor 800 metres record, he established new indoor marks for St Vincent and the Grenadines in the 600 metres , 800 metres and the 1000 metres.

These add to his claim on the National Under-20 records in the 800 and 1500 metres which he set in 2021.