John Luther "Blondy" Romig Romig enrolled at Penn State University 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.

In June 1924, Romig easily won the 5,000 meter race in the U.S. Olympic trials at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, Massachusetts with a time of 15:15.7.

Romig finished fourth in 5,000 meter race at the Olympic games in Paris with a time of 15:12.4. Edvin Wide, finished ahead of Romig for the bronze medal, though Romig had beaten Wide in the semi-finals.

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.

Romig returned to Olympic competition in 1928. He ran for the United States in the 10,000 meter race in Amsterdam.

After competing in the Olympics, Romig became a teacher and athletic coach at Kennett Square Consolidated High School in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

Romig later became known as an expert in explosives. He was an executive with Atlas Chemical Industries 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.