John Romig
Encyclopedia
John Luther "Blondy" Romig (October 6, 1898 – March 16, 1984) was an American track and field athlete. He won collegiate championships in the two-mile race in 1921 and 1922 and finished fourth in the 1924 Summer Olympics
in the 5,000 meter race.
where he became a star athlete in distance and cross-country running. He won the two-mile run at the first NCAA track and field championships
in 1921
with a time of 9:31. He was Penn State's first NCAA track champion. Romig was also selected as the top cross-country runner for the All-American Athletic Team published in the annual Spalding's Official Athletic Almanac for 1921. In 1922, Romig won the USA Indoor Track & Field Championship in the two-mile race with a time of 9:21.2.
with a time of 15:15.7. Romig's victory was reported as follows:
Romig finished fourth in 5,000 meter race at the Olympic games in Paris with a time of 15:12.4. The "Flying Finns," Paavo Nurmi
and Ville Ritola
, took the gold and silver medals, and a Swede, Edvin Wide
, finished ahead of Romig for the bronze medal, though Romig had beaten Wide in the semi-finals. The Associated Press reported on Romig's performance in Paris as follows: "America had some consolation when John Romig, former intercollegiate cross-country champion, beat out Sipila of Finland for Fourth place."
Romig continued to compete following the 1924 Olympics, moving up in distance to the 10,000 meter race. Competing for the Meadowbrook Club in Philadelphia, he finished second in the 10,000 meter race at the 1928 Amateur Athletic Union
championship.
Romig returned to Olympic competition in 1928. He ran for the United States in the 10,000 meter race in Amsterdam
. The "Flying Finns," Nurmi and Ritola, won gold and silver in the event.
in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
.
Romig later became known as an expert in explosives. He was the manager of Quarry Mining Industries and an executive with Atlas Chemical Industries (now known as AstraZeneca
) and Atlas Powder Co. of Wilmington, Delaware
. In April 1961, Romig was honored at the Penn Relays
. In 1971, Romig was elected to the Board of Trustees of Penn State University.
Romig died in 1984 at age 87.
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
in the 5,000 meter race.
Collegiate middle distance champion
Romig enrolled at Penn State UniversityPennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
where he became a star athlete in distance and cross-country running. He won the two-mile run at the first NCAA track and field championships
NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
The NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship is an annual collegiate outdoor track and field competition for men organised by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. It has three divisions: Division I, II, and III. Athlete's individual performances earn points for their institution and...
in 1921
1921 NCAA Men's Track and Field Championships
The 1921 NCAA Track and Field Championships was the first NCAA track and field championship. The event was held at Stagg Field in Chicago, Illinois in June 1921. The University of Illinois won the team title.-Overview:...
with a time of 9:31. He was Penn State's first NCAA track champion. Romig was also selected as the top cross-country runner for the All-American Athletic Team published in the annual Spalding's Official Athletic Almanac for 1921. In 1922, Romig won the USA Indoor Track & Field Championship in the two-mile race with a time of 9:21.2.
Olympic competition
In June 1924, Romig easily won the 5,000 meter race in the U.S. Olympic trials at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, MassachusettsCambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
with a time of 15:15.7. Romig's victory was reported as follows:
"The running of John Romig of Penn State in the 5,000 meters event which he won by ten yards, was a beautiful exhibition and raised hopes that Uncle Sam may figure better than anticipated in this race at Paris. Romig jumped into the lead at the fourth lap and held it to the finish."
Romig finished fourth in 5,000 meter race at the Olympic games in Paris with a time of 15:12.4. The "Flying Finns," Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Nurmi
Paavo Johannes Nurmi was a Finnish runner. Born in Turku, he was known as one of the "Flying Finns," a term given to him, Hannes Kolehmainen, Ville Ritola, and others for their distinction in running...
and Ville Ritola
Ville Ritola
Vilho Eino Ritola was a Finnish athlete, specialised in the long distance events. In the 1920s, he won 8 Olympic medals...
, took the gold and silver medals, and a Swede, Edvin Wide
Edvin Wide
Emil Edvin Wide was a Swedish long-distance runner.Born in Finland, Wide competed for Sweden at the 1920 Summer Olympics held in Antwerp, Belgium, in the 3000 metre team, where he won the bronze medal with his team mates Eric Backman and Sven Lundgren.He returned to the Olympics four years later...
, finished ahead of Romig for the bronze medal, though Romig had beaten Wide in the semi-finals. The Associated Press reported on Romig's performance in Paris as follows: "America had some consolation when John Romig, former intercollegiate cross-country champion, beat out Sipila of Finland for Fourth place."
Romig continued to compete following the 1924 Olympics, moving up in distance to the 10,000 meter race. Competing for the Meadowbrook Club in Philadelphia, he finished second in the 10,000 meter race at the 1928 Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
championship.
Romig returned to Olympic competition in 1928. He ran for the United States in the 10,000 meter race in Amsterdam
Athletics at the 1928 Summer Olympics - Men's 10000 metres
The men's 10,000 metres event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1928 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Sunday, July 29, 1928.Twenty-four long-distance runners from twelve nations competed.-Medalists:-Records:...
. The "Flying Finns," Nurmi and Ritola, won gold and silver in the event.
Later years
After competing in the Olympics, Romig became a teacher and athletic coach at Kennett Square Consolidated High SchoolKennett High School (Pennsylvania)
Kennett High School is the only public high school in the Kennett Consolidated School District and is located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States. The school averages around 1300 students and 100 faculty members...
in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Kennett Square is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known as the Mushroom Capital of the World because mushroom farming in the region produces over a million pounds of mushrooms a year...
.
Romig later became known as an expert in explosives. He was the manager of Quarry Mining Industries and an executive with Atlas Chemical Industries (now known as AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca plc is a global pharmaceutical and biologics company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's seventh-largest pharmaceutical company measured by revenues and has operations in over 100 countries...
) and Atlas Powder Co. of Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
. In April 1961, Romig was honored at the Penn Relays
Penn Relays
The Penn Relays is the oldest and largest track and field competition in the United States, hosted annually since April 21, 1895 by the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
. In 1971, Romig was elected to the Board of Trustees of Penn State University.
Romig died in 1984 at age 87.