Julia Paternain

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Julia Paternain
Personal information
NationalityUruguay, United Kingdom
Born (1999-09-29) 29 September 1999 (age 25)
León, Guanajuato, Mexico
EducationHills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Alma materUniversity of Arkansas, United States[1]
Parent
Sport
SportAthletics
EventLong distance running
Achievements and titles
Personal bestsMarathon 2:27:09 (2025) NR
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  Uruguay
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2025 Tokyo Marathon

Julia Paternain (born 29 September 1999) is a long-distance runner who represents Uruguay. She was a bronze medalist in the marathon at the 2025 World Athletics Championships and holds the Uruguayan national record in the distance.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Paternain was born in Mexico to Uruguayan mathematicians Gabriel Paternain and Graciela Muniz. At two years old she moved to England and then to the United States.[4] She competed as a member of Cambridge & Coleridge Athletic Club in England.[5] She won the English Schools title over 3000 metres in Gateshead in 2017, taking nine seconds off her personal best to win in 9:30.74, and retained the title again in 2018.[6][7] She represented Great Britain at the 2019 European Athletics U23 Championships, placing sixth in the 10,000 metres race.[8]

NCAA

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Paternain moved to the United States in 2018 to attend Penn State University for two years before transferring to University of Arkansas for three years.[9]

Julia Paternain earned 2019 NCAA Division I Mid-Atlantic Region Cross Country honors after placing 9th. Paternain earned 2023 All-SEC Outdoor Track and Field honors after placing 2nd in the 10,000 meters.

representing Arkansas Razorbacks
2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships 5000 m 16:15.08 46th
Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships 10,000 m 35:07.76 2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2nd
5000 m 16:25.80 8th
2022 Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships 6 km 21:16.5 57th
2021 2021 NCAA Division I cross country championships 6 km 20:56.2 171st
Southeastern Conference cross country championships 21:17.5 28th
2020 Redshirt
representing Penn State Nittany Lions track and field
2019 2019 NCAA Division I cross country championships 6 km 21:38.5 151st
Big Ten Conference cross country championships 21:19.2 44th
2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships 5000 m 17:13.82 22nd
10,000 m 33:55.53 25th
Big Ten Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships 10,000 m 33:22.91 6th
2018 2018 NCAA Division I cross country championships 6 km 21:17.4 125th
Big Ten Conference cross country championships 20:22.9 10th

[10]

Professional

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Paternain switched her international athletics eligibility from Great Britain to Uruguay in January 2025.[11][12]

She turned her attention to road races and began training with the McKirdy Training Group. At the Twin Cities 10 Mile from Minneapolis to St. Paul, running conditions were good and Paternain hung with a chase pack while Natosha Rogers won in 52:29. Paternain would finish fifth, crossing the line with a smile on her face, clocking 53:26.[13][14]

In November 2024, she edged Sarah Hall by ten seconds to take second at the Indianapolis Half Marathon, running 1:10:15 on a day when Emma Grace Hurley won and set a course record.[15] In March 2025, she ran a Uruguayan national record in the marathon on her marathon debut, running 2:27:09 in the United States in Rockland Lake State Park, New York.[4][16] She signed a deal with Saucony.[17]

In 2025, Paternain signed a multi-year endorsement contract with Saucony.[18]

2025 World Athletics Championship

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She was a bronze medalist representing Uruguay in the marathon at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan in 2:27:23. It was the first medal won by Uruguay at the Championships.[19][20][21]

Paternain entered the race ranked 288th in the world and was not expected to place for a medal. This led to surprise, even from herself, from many observers.[22]

[edit]

Julia Paternain on Instagram

References

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  1. ^ "Julia Paternain Season 2019". Pennsylvania State University. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  2. ^ "La historia detrás de Julia Paternain, bronce en el Mundial de atletismo en Tokio 2025" (in Spanish). El Osservador. 14 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Julia Paternain". World Athletics. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Julia Paternain made her marathon debut, setting a new national record". Montevideo.com. Retrieved 14 Sep 2025.
  5. ^ Taylor, Mark (5 July 2019). "Cambridge & Coleridge Athletic Club trio to represent Great Britain". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  6. ^ Taylor, Mark (14 July 2017). "Siobhan Skinner hails the efforts of Cambridgeshire athletes at English Schools' AA Championship". Cambridge Independent.
  7. ^ Nelson, Craig (14 Sep 2025). "Ex-English schools champion makes history for Uruguay". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 Sep 2025.
  8. ^ Taylor, Mark (17 July 2019). "Julia Paternain pride at Great Britain debut in European Under-23 Championships". Cambridge Independent. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Julia Paternain". University of Arkansas. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  10. ^ Julia Paternain NCAA results TFRRS
  11. ^ "Paternain: three passports, one green card and an unexpected bronze medal". World Athletics. 14 September 2025.
  12. ^ Julia Paternain smashed it in her debut representing Uruguay: she achieved four national record marks at the Houston Half Marathon 🔥🇺🇾 1️⃣ With 16.53, he set a 5K record. 2️⃣ With 33.34, he set a record in the 10K, improving Maria Pia Fernández's 35.44 in 2020. 3️⃣ With 1.08.15, she made a 20K record mark, improving Lorena Sosa's 1.13.28 of 2024 4️⃣ With 1.12.01, he set a record in the Half Marathon, improving Lorena Sosa's 1.17.13 of 2024 Impressive 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 #atletismoCAU Uruguayan Athletics Confederation
  13. ^ Tollefson, Carrie; Brinkman, Kelly (October 6, 2024). WATCH LIVE: Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. KARE 11. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  14. ^ Zgoda, Jerry (October 6, 2024). "Connor Mantz, feeling chased the whole way, wins the Twin Cities 10-mile men's title". Star Tribune. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  15. ^ "A Monumental Record-Breaking Day at the 2024 CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon" (Press release). PR Newswire. November 9, 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  16. ^ Kelsall, Christopher (March 31, 2025). "Canada's Justin Kent runs a 2:09:28 marathon in New York". Athletics Illustrated. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  17. ^ Seimas, Jim (March 14, 2025). "Accomplished Scotts Valley runner Jessica Kain signs with Saucony". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  18. ^ juliapaternain_ 26w Eeek!!! I’m so happy to share that I will be running professionally for @saucony! I couldn’t be more excited to see what we can achieve together, alongside my coach @jack_polerecky and the @mckirdytrained team here in Flagstaff, Arizona 🏜️ Growing up, I played just about every sport under the sun before eventually sticking with swimming. I wanted to get into triathlons, but my hometown’s triathlon club had a waitlist—so in the meantime, I joined the running club. And I’m so glad I did! Fast forward almost a decade (ahhh), and little me would be amazed at where this sport has taken me. A special thank you to everyone who has played a role in my journey so far 🫶 I can’t wait to keep building, and I’ll see you all on the roads soon! #saucony 📷: @mr.nono500 Julia Paternain Instagram
  19. ^ "Kenya's Jepchirchir wins women's marathon gold at worlds in Tokyo". Japan Times. 14 Sep 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  20. ^ "World Athletics Championships: South American wins historic medal in the marathon". cnnbrasil. 13 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  21. ^ "World Athletics Championships, Tokyo 2025". World Athletics. 14 Sep 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  22. ^ "Paternain: three passports, one green card and an unexpected bronze medal". World Athletics. 14 September 2025.