| Fullname | Conner Blair Mantz |
|---|---|
| Sport | Track and Field, Road running Cross country running |
| Event | 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, Half marathon, Marathon |
| Universityteam | BYU Cougars |
| Turnedpro | December 2021 |
| Birth date | December 8, 1996 (age 29) |
| Birth place | Logan, Utah, U.S. |
| Hometown | Smithfield, Utah, U.S. |
| Height | 173 cm [1] |
| Spouse | Kylie Mantz[2] |
| Pb |
|
Conner Blair Mantz (born December 8, 1996) is an American long-distance runner who specializes in the marathon. Mantz ran collegiately for Brigham Young University, winning the 2020 and 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. Mantz holds American records in both the half marathon (set at the 2025 Houston Half Marathon), and the marathon (set at the 2025 Chicago Marathon). He has competed professionally for Nike since 2021 and was the top American finisher at the 2024 Paris Olympic Marathon, finishing in 8th place.
Background and youth sports
Mantz completed his first half marathon at age 12, which motivated him to participate in other races.[4] At age 14, he finished a half marathon in 1:11:24, averaging a pace of 5:26.8 minutes per mile. He attended Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah, where he was a three-time All-American at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.[1] Mantz also represented the United States in the junior race at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Guiyang, China. He placed 29th over the 8 km race, leading Team USA to a sixth place finish.[5]
Mantz committed to Brigham Young University (BYU), among offers from several other institutions, including Princeton and Furman.[6] After high school, Mantz took a two-year hiatus from running to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghana.[7][1] Upon returning in 2017, Mantz redshirted his first year at BYU.[1]
His great grandfather, Paul Mantz, was a noted air racing pilot and flight instructor.[citation needed]
Collegiate competition
Mantz ran for Brigham Young University (BYU). He won a national title at the 2020 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma.[8][9] He won by over 20 seconds with a final time of 29:26.1. Mantz's victory broke a streak of wins by international athletes and made him the first American to win the event since Galen Rupp in 2008.[9]
The 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships saw Mantz repeat as the winner.[10] He covered the first 5k of the race in 14:16.4 and the second 5k in 14:16.7 to finish in a course record of 28:33.1.[11] The win concluded an undefeated season of cross country for Mantz.
Performances by Mantz on the track included a world-leading performance of 13:34.46 over 5000 m at the UW Invitational in February 2021.[12] His time also broke the BYU school record for the indoor 5000 m. Later that year, Mantz finished runner up in the 10000 metres at the 2021 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[13]
Senior competition
2021
Mantz competed in the 2020 United States Olympic trials in June 2021, which were delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic. He placed fifth in the 5000 m and eighth in the 10000 m.[14]
ln December 2021, Mantz won the USA Half Marathon Championships in Hardeeville, South Carolina with a time of 1:00:55.[15] He next took fifth at the NYC half marathon in 1:01.40.
2022
In September 2022, Mantz won a national title at the USATF 20 Km Road Championships.[16] The following month, he debuted in the marathon at the 2022 Chicago Marathon, placing seventh in 2:08:16. He was the top American finisher in the race. His performance was the second fastest marathon debut by an American, trailing Leonard Korir's debut record of 2:07:56.[17]
2023
At the 2023 Boston Marathon, Mantz stayed in the lead pack for most of the race. Running with a large group of leaders, including Eliud Kipchoge, Evans Chebet, CJ Albertson, Mantz reached halfway in 1:02:20. By the 20-mile mark, he was 45 seconds off the five leaders (which included Chebet and Benson Kipruto). He nearly blacked out at mile 24, but stayed upright to finish as the third American (11th overall) in 2:10:25.[18] At the 2023 Chicago Marathon, Mantz was the sixth place finisher and top American, lowering his personal best by 29 seconds to 2:07:47.[19] His time met the qualifying standard for the 2024 Paris Olympics.[20]
2024
Mantz won the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics,[21] where he placed 8th. He ran much of the race in Paris with his training partner, Clayton Young, who finished ninth.
Although Mantz's personal best was the 56th fastest in the field, he produced an eighth place finish in the marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympics.[22] In the lead up to the Olympics, Mantz suffered a two inch tear in one of his quad muscles. While recovering from the injury, he swam up to 10,000 yards in one day and worked on the hills he would face in Paris by running uphill and getting driven downhill in repetition. In his first marathon since the Olympic Games, Mantz placed sixth at the 2024 New York City Marathon.[23] His time of 2:09:00 was the fastest for an American man since Alberto Salazar in 1981.[24]
2025
Mantz set the American record in the half-marathon in January, running 59:17 in Houston.[25][26] His record broke the previous best mark set by Ryan Hall in 2007. He set another personal best at the New York City Half-Marathon on March 16, running 59:15; however, the course was not eligible for an American record. He finished second behind Abel Kipchumba of Kenya.[27] At the 2025 Boston Marathon Mantz stayed with the lead pack until John Korir broke off in the final 10k, leaving Mantz with Tanzanian Simbu and Kenyan Kotut to battle for the final two podium places. Simbu and Kotut had a photo finish for 2nd and 3rd and Mantz finished 4 seconds behind them in 4th place and a personal best of 2:05:08.[28] Over the summer, Mantz won the Beach to Beacon 10K in a time 27:26, which broke the previous course record set by Gilbert Okari in 2003. Mantz is one of only two Americans, along with Ben True, to ever win the road race.[29] At the 2025 Chicago Marathon, Mantz finished in 4th, breaking the American marathon record with a time of 2:04:43.[30]
Achievements
National championships
| 2021 | United States Olympic Trials | Eugene, Oregon | 5th | 10,000 m | 27:59.37 |
| 8th | 5000 m | 13:32.69 | |||
| USA Half Marathon Championships | Hardeeville, South Carolina | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:00:55 | |
| 2022 | 2022 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Spokane, Washington | 4th | 3000 m | 7:49.43 |
| 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 4th | 5000 m | 13:11.81 | |
| 7th | 10000 m | 28:31.24 | |||
| USATF 8 km Championships | Kingsport, Tennessee | 2nd | 8 km | 22:42 | |
| USATF 20 km Championships | New Haven, Connecticut | 1st | 20 km | 59:08 | |
| 2023 | 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 6th | 10,000 m | 28:29.36 |
| 10th | 5000 m | 13:30.85 | |||
| USATF 20 km Championships | New Haven, Connecticut | 2nd | 20 km | 59:16 | |
| 2024 | United States Olympic Trials | Orlando, Florida | 1st | Marathon | 2:09:05 |
| Eugene, Oregon | 6th | 10,000 m | 28:00.90 | ||
| 2025 | USATF 20 km Championships | New Haven, Connecticut | 1st | 20 km | 56:16 |
BYU
| Representing BYU Cougars | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Year | West Coast Conference Cross Country Championship | NCAA Cross Country Championship | MPSF Indoor Track Championship | NCAA Indoor Track Championship | NCAA Division I Outdoor Track Championship | |
| 2021-22 Red Shirt-Senior | 1st 23:01.0 | 1st 28:33.1 | ||||
| 2020-21 Senior | 1st 22:54.4 | 1st 29:26.1 | 10,000m 2nd 27:42.46 | |||
| 2019-20 Junior | 1st 23:33.8 | 3rd 30:40.0 | ||||
| 2018-19 Sophomore | 3rd 23:24.7 | 10th 29:17.1 | 3000m 2nd 7:50.90 | 3000m 7th 7:56.72 | 5000m 7th 14:09.20 | |
| 5000m 10th 13:51.45 | 10,000m 4th 29:19.93 | |||||
| 2017-18 Freshman | 3000m 10th 8:02.75 | 10,000m 22nd 31:37.34 | ||||
| 5000m 6th 14:01.96 | ||||||
Sky View High School
| Year | Foot Locker Cross Country Championships | New Balance Indoor Nationals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 10th 15:27.0[32] | |||||
| 2013-14 | 7th 15:23.0[33] | 5000m 14:24:33 1st[34] | Brooks PR 2 mile 4th 8:56.62 | |||
| 2012-13 | 12th 15:32.3[35] | Great Southwest Classic 3200 Meters 2nd 9:32.51 | ||||
| Representing Sky View High School at Utah High School Activities Association | ||||||
| Year | Cross Country class 4 state championship | Outdoor Track and Field class 4 state championship | ||||
| 2014-15 | 15:18.9 2nd place | 3200 m 9:03.47 1st | ||||
| 1600 m 4:13.68 2nd | ||||||
| 800 m 1:58.20 10th | ||||||
| 2013-14 | 15:11.5 1st place | 3200 m 8:57.99 1st | ||||
| 1600 m 4:10.47 1st | ||||||
| 800 m 1:56.80 5th | ||||||
| 2012-13 | 15:17.8 3rd place | 3200 m 9:10.20 2nd | ||||
| 1600 m 4:16.08 3rd | ||||||
| 2011-12 | 15:40.0 2nd place | 3200 m 9:18.56 3rd | ||||
| 1600 m 4:22.5 7th | ||||||
References
- ^ "Conner Mantz - Men's Cross Country 2017". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ Love, marriage and running: How these Olympic athletes’ families juggle demands of being elite
- ^
- ^ Roper, Jake (October 18, 2022). "Conner Mantz: A story of starting lines, finish lines, and everything in-between". The Daily Universe. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ LetsRun.comMarch 28. "Justyn Knight and Conner Mantz talk after finishing 25th and 29th at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ Turner, Jason (May 28, 2015). "Mantz was more than an elite runner". The Herald Journal. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
- ^ "Mantz's Mission Before His Mission". MileSplit United States. May 14, 2014. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Conner Mantz, Whittni Orton make BYU history at NCAA cross country championship". Deseret News. November 20, 2021. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ Gault, Jonathan. "Conner Mantz Ends American Drought, NAU Men Reassert Themselves As Kings At 2020 NCAA Cross Country Championships". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Mantz wins national title - again". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Conner Mantz, BYU: 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country National Athlete of the Year ::: USTFCCCA". Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Mantz Clocks World-Leading Time in 5000m, Smashes School Record". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "BYU's Conner Mantz places second in the 10,000-meter run at the NCAA Track and Field Championships". Deseret News. June 10, 2021. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Mantz takes 8th place in 5000m final on last day of U.S. Olympic Trials". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ Dickinson, Marley (December 6, 2021). "Connor Mantz wins USATF Half Marathon Championships". runningmagazine.ca. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
- ^ Bush, Scott (September 5, 2022). "USA Track & Field | Mantz, D'Amato Charge to Victory at the USATF 20 km Road Championships". usatf.org. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ^ Knapp, Mike. "Conner Mantz Runs 2nd Fastest American Debut Marathon- 2:08:16". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ "Conner Mantz Was Blacking Out And Hypothermic At End Of Boston Marathon". FloTrack.com. April 17, 2023. Archived April 18, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
- ^ Carveth, Jesse (October 9, 2023). "Conner Mantz And Clayton Young Become First Americans To Run Olympic Qualifying Times At Chicago Marathon". Marathon Handbook. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ Lorge Butler, Sarah (October 8, 2023). "American Men Have the Day They Needed at the 2023 Chicago Marathon". Runnersworld.com. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
- ^ Battaglia, Joe (February 3, 2024). "Conner Mantz, Clayton Young Finish 1-2 At U.S. Olympic Trials Mens Marathon". FloTrack. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ^ Gault, Jonathan (August 10, 2024). "Training Partners Conner Mantz & Clayton Young Finish Top 10 in 2024 Olympic Marathon". Let's Run. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
- ^ Effress, Sarah (November 3, 2024). "New York Marathon live results: Updated list of 2024 winners from all four divisions". The Sporting News. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ Rock, Brian (November 6, 2024). "The 2024 New York City Marathon: Three Interesting Data Insights (Plus More)". Running with Rock. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
- ^ Cabrero, Alex (2025-01-23). "Provo's Conner Mantz sets American half marathon record". KSLTV.com. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ^ Dallas, Kelsey (2025-01-21). "What Conner Mantz said about breaking the American half-marathon record on Citius podcast". Deseret News. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ^ Dallas, Kelsey (2025-03-16). "Conner Mantz impresses again 2 months after setting American half-marathon record". Deseret News. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
- ^ Gault, Johnathon (2025-04-21). "Conner Mantz Breaks Through with 2:05:08 PB to Finish 4th at 2025 Boston Marathon". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
- ^ Craig, Steve (2025-08-02). "Conner Mantz sets course record at Beach to Beacon 10K". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
- ^ By; Zaccardi, Nick; By; Zaccardi, Nick (2025-10-12). "Chicago Marathon: Jacob Kiplimo wins; Conner Mantz shatters American record". NBC Sports. Retrieved 2025-10-12.
- ^ Conner Mantz Brigham Young University results TFRRS
- ^ 2014 Foot Locker Cross Country National Championship Boys Results Foot Locker Cross Country Championships
- ^ 2013 Foot Locker Cross Country National Championship Boys Results Foot Locker Cross Country Championships
- ^ Bloom, Marc (March 25, 2014). "Conner Mantz Is Confident After New Balance Nationals Win". Runner's World. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
- ^ 2012 Foot Locker Cross Country National Championship Boys Results Foot Locker Cross Country Championships
- ^ Conner Mantz bio Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah Athletic.net