Julia Paternain (born 29 September 1999) is a long-distance runner who represents Uruguay internationally. She was a bronze medalist in the marathon at the 2025 World Athletics Championships and holds the Uruguayan national record in the distance.
Early life Paternain was born in Mexico to Uruguayan mathematicians Gabriel Paternain and Graciela Muniz. At two years old she moved to England. She competed as a member of Cambridge & Coleridge Athletic Club in England. She won the English Schools title over 3,000 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. She represented Great Britain at the 2019 European Athletics U23 Championships, placing sixth in the 10,000 metres race.
NCAA 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. She earned 2019 NCAA Division I Mid-Atlantic Region Cross Country honors after placing ninth. Paternain earned 2023 All-SEC Outdoor Track and Field honors after placing second in the 10,000 meters. representing Arkansas Razorbacks2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships 5000 m 16:15.08 46thSoutheastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships 10,000 m 35:07.76 5000 m 16:25.80 8th 2022 Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships 6 km 21:16.5 57th2021 2021 NCAA Division I cross country championships 6 km 20:56.2 171st Southeastern Conference cross country championships 21:17.5 28th2020 Redshirtrepresenting Penn State Nittany Lions track and field2019 2019 NCAA Division I cross country championships 6 km 21:38.5 151st Big Ten Conference cross country championships 21:19.2 44th2019 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 6th2018 2018 NCAA Division I cross country championships 6 km 21:17.4 125th Big Ten Conference cross country championships 20:22.9 10th Julia Paternain NCAA results TFRRS
Professional Paternain switched her international athletics eligibility from Great Britain to Uruguay in January 2025.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
Paternain worked at the West Coast Conference for one year while she healed from her college injuries. She later moved to Flagstaff, Arizona and was then a project manager at Ohio University, working remotely.~12 minute timestamp - Julia Paternain - Putting Uruguay on the Map // The C Tolle Run Podcast // EP 431 The C Tolle Run Podcast Paternain met her training partner, Danielle Shanahan Polerecky, and her future coach, Jack Polerecky in Flagstaff.The Countdown to London begins with Julia Paternain, Sophie Raworth and Harry Judd - are you ready?! Paula's Run Club
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, Paternain finished fifth in 53:26.
In November 2024, she edged Sara Hall by ten seconds to take second at the Indianapolis Half Marathon, running 1:10:15 behind Emma Grace Hurley. In March 2025, she ran a Uruguayan national record in the marathon on her marathon debut, running 2:27:09 in Rockland Lake State Park, New York.
In 2025, Paternain signed a multi-year endorsement contract with Saucony.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
2025 World Athletics Championship
Paternain 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.
Paternain entered the race ranked 288th in the world and was not expected to place for a medal.
Paternain ran a new personal best and national record of 2:25:47 at the 2026 London Marathon, finishing eighth.
representing Saucony & 2025 McKirdy Micro - The Road to Tokyo Congers, New YorkRockland Lake State ParkMarathon 2:27:09 World Athletics ChampionshipsTokyoMarathon 2:27:232026London MarathonLondonMarathon2:25:47 8th
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