Josh Rohatinsky: Mormon Athlete

Josh Rohatinsky is a former long-distance runner. He was born March 7, 1982, in Provo, Utah. During high school he began to receive national attention by winning four state titles in cross-country and track and field. He also competed in three consecutive Foot Locker Cross Country Championships with Provo High.

Rohatinsky earned both his bachelor’s degree in exercise science and his Master of Public Administration from Brigham Young University. While running for BYU as an undergrad, he was the 2006 NCAA Men’s Cross Country Champion. He placed first at the 2007 NCAA Track and Field Championship in the 10,000 meters. Ed Eyestone was one of his coaches. Only nine American collegians have run below 28 minutes in the 10,000 meters and three of the top seven are from BYU—Rohatinsky is part of that group.[1]

From 2007 to 2009, Rohatinsky was coached by Alberto Salazar. He competed for a place on the team for the 2008 Olympic Games. In November 2007, he ran his first marathon with a time of 2:15:22, placing him ninth in the U.S. Olympic Trials for the marathon. He then placed fifth in the U.S. Olympic Trials for the 10,000 meters with a time of 27:54.41.

After graduating with his bachelor’s degree, he ran professionally for Nike in Beaverton, Oregon. His personal bests were 4:01 (mile), 13:25 (5k), 27:54 (10k), 1:01:54 (half marathon), and 2:14 (marathon). He stopped running competitively in 2010. At this point he focused on obtaining his graduate degree.

Rohatinsky briefly worked in public consulting, then became a race director for endurance events. He and his wife are the parents of three children and live in Utah.

He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a full-time mission to Montevideo, Uruguay, from 2001 to 2003.