Connor Mantz is a only a very good man who can run very quick marathons.
Oh, and now he’s the American document holder at 2:04:43.
Severely, I’ve interviewed this exceptional athlete a number of occasions, and he’s at all times considerate, even when has simply completed 26.2 miles of racing! If in case you have run a couple of marathons (eighteen for this author, in earlier life), you recall how one can really feel after 26.2 miles of pounding, even with an excellent race.
So, right here’s the news on Connor Mantz!
He’s was not an in a single day sensation! Reality is, nobody actually is!
It’s important to decide to a number of exhausting work, exhausting days and years (10-12 years, the author believes) of constructing your mortal engine previous to attending to an elite degree. Now some seem like in a single day sensations, (take a look at Jane Hedengren), however all nice athletes and all nice careers require exhausting work, focus and a love of the game. Our sport just isn’t for the faint-hearted, nor for athletes who shouldn’t have endurance.
Connor Mantz ran his first half-marathon on the superior age of 12. At fourteen years of age, Connor Mantz ran 1:11.26 for 13.1 miles, a 5:26 per mile tempo. An excellent highschool runner, Connor certified for 3 FootLocker cross nation finals (which suggests you’re one of many prime 40 boys within the nation, it’s the place Suzy Favor Hamilton, Meb Keflezighi, Charles Alexander ran nicely, amongst others). In highschool, Connor gained one State cross nation title, additionally taking second and third at State. In monitor, Connor had highschool PBs of 1:56.8 at 800m, 4:10.47 for the 1,600 meters, and eight:57.99 for the three,200 meters, whereas at SkyView Excessive Faculty (Smithview, Utah).
In faculty, Connor Mantz was coached by Ed Eyestone, a BYU graduate, Olympic marathon in 1992 and 1996, and one of many best coaches on the planet. When one speaks with Connor Mantz, Kenneth Rooks, or any of Ed’s athletes, you see this fairly confidence, very considerate, and an appreciation of the method. When requested on the Chicago Marathon submit occasion presser, Connor famous, when requested what was differnce between his 2:08:16 debut in Chicago in 2022, and his 2:04:43 simply three years later! ” It isn’t insane to enhance three and a half minutes in three years, ” famous a considerate Mantz to media queries. Connor had famous, prior within the dialog that ” I added little issues.” Ed Eyestone continues to teach Connor Mantz, and his coaching companion, Clayton Younger, amongst many nice athletes in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah.
This author has identified Coach Eyestone for most likely three many years, principally by having fast, considerate chats with the daddy of six daughters, in addition to watching his competitions on web site at US championships, Olympics and marathons. Ed Eyestone has coached BYU athletes for twenty-five years, I consider. Ed Eyestone, per his athletes, is all about maintaining it easy and centered. Easy is a misnomer, as Ed Eyestone, and that is my observations, focuses on his athletes, and that assist is the key sauce. Ed Eyestone’s athletes know that they’ve carried out the whole lot below God’s inexperienced earth to arrange for his or her upcoming race. Religion is a key element in these relationships.
Like many members of the Church-of-Latter-Day-Saints, Connor Mantz took two years as a Mormon missionary. He famous in his coaching log, “I had gained 30 kilos.” When Connor Mantz matriculated to Brigham Younger College, he red-shirted his first yr. Three years later, Connor was able to shake issues up.
Connor Mantz made historical past along with his two again to again NCAA cross nation titles, in 2020 and 2021. His victory in 2021, at Stillwater, Oklahoma, was historic: Connor’s 29:26.1 win on the quick however difficult course, was a twenty second win, and first time that an American male had gained wince 2008 ( did you guess, Galen Rupp?). Connor got here again in 2021 and gained the NCAA cross nation, then, took second within the 10,000m on the NCAA Cross Nation. (Wish to see how Connor Mantz skilled in 2021, test right here: https://fastrunningblog.com/u/conner/#google_vignette.)
Cross-country builds athletes, from the 800 meters on up! Heck, Bud Winter, long-time coach at San Jose State (Pace Metropolis) made Lee Evans (former WR holder at 400 meters) run cross nation races! Connor’s power from highschool, to school, to an elite athlete , constructed on the miles and trails of cross nation gave him that base to deal with the elevated degree of coaching and focus wanted to be an elite athlete a the marathon distance.
The journey to the marathon is an extended one.
There are good marathons, after which, there are unhealthy marathons.
When Connor Mantz debuted, he did so in October 2022 on the Financial institution of America Chicago Marathon, operating an excellent 2:08:16. On the time, Connor Mantz’s run was the second quickest debut by an American (Leonard Korir’s 2:07:56).
In his second marathon (April 2023), Connor had that “Agony” expertise. Operating nicely by the half, in 1:02:20. At 20 miles, Connor started to gall again, dropping 45 seconds behind the leaders. Then, Connor Mantz skilled “that darkish second of the soul” the place one questions why they’re operating marathons. Connor Mantz, advised media submit race that he “almost blacked out” , operating final couple miles at six minute per mile tempo, ending in 2:10.25, ending eleventh, as third American.
Now, a 2:10:25 is fairly spectacular for many marathoners, however Connor Mantz has goals of a “a podium end”, aka prime three end. Boston Maraton is a troublesome course, and have to be revered. (Invoice Rodgers, who gained 4 Bostons (1975, 1978, 1979 and 1980) dropped out in 1977.)
Within the fall of 2023, Connor Mantz when again to Financial institution of America Chicago Marathon and ran 2:07:47, getting the moneky of Boston off his neck and making the Olympic normal for Paris 2024.
Connor Mantz and his coaching companion, Clayton Younger, went one, two on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials on February 4, 2024. Connor was injured , and spent a number of time within the swimming pool, as much as 10,000 meters of swimming as he ready for the 2024 Paris Olympics. One in all Claytons’ exercises, as he got here again from harm was uphill runs, the place he would pushed downhill in order to not problem the therapeutic muscular tissues. Connor and Clayton ready for the rigorous course in Paris.
Oh and on the U.S. Olympic Trials, Connor ran the ten,000m a critical race the place the sphere simply did “Raging Bull” on one another, one stomack bunch after one other. Connor Mantz completed sixth in 28:00.90. Afterwards, Connor advised this author, ” I didn’t know if I’d end after the primary two miles, I felt like I used to be going all out.”
A sidebar is required right here: This author has noticed or been in attendance to each Olympic marathon since 1972. The Paris 2024 Marathon course was one of many God terrible programs this author has ever seen. Connor Mantz was ranked 56th previous to the Paris Olympic marathon. In Paris, Connor took eighth! Clayton Younger, his companion in coaching, completed ninth!
Not having sufficient marathons in 2024, Connor Mantz then ran the 2024 TCS NYC Marathon, ending sixth in 2:09:00, the quickest American time within the Massive Apple since 1981 and one Alberto Salazar.
My subsequent time in seeing Connor Mantz was his PB of two:05:08 on the Boston Marathon in April 2025. Connor was ecstatic! Connor had hoped for prime three, ending 4th in 2:05:08. As Boston Marathon, for some unfathomable motive just isn’t ” American-record authorized” , Connor knew he wanted a authorized course to interrupt the twenty-three yr previous American document of Khalid Khannouchi.
Now a sidebar on Khallid Khannouchi. Khalid was a Moroccan, who married an American. Khalid grew to become an American citizen, and proudly set the American document (additionally world document) on the time (2002), whereas successful the London Marathon in 2:05.08. That fall, Khalid gained his fourth Chicago Marathon title (1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002, plus a second in 2001), in 2:05:55, the primary man below two hours, six minutes within the marathon twice in a single yr!
Connor Mantz’s run in Chicago was an instance of nice coaching, nice focus, some nice races build up for the close to excellent storm. Connor ran the NIKE Pre Basic 10,000m on July 5, 2025, ending twelfth in 27:33.22. It was a troublesome race, however reminded Connor of what he wanted to do to arrange for Chicago. One month later, Connor Mantz gained the #BeachtoBeacon10k, a race established by 1984 Olympic champion, Joan Benoit Samuelson, breaking the 23 yr previous course document (Gilbert Okari) along with his nice 27:26. Connor Mantz joined Ben True as solely different American male to win Seaside to Beacon.
Another race, the US 20 kilometer champs, previous to the deliberate assault for the American document, was gained by Connor in 56:16 at New Haven, Connecticutt.
Connor was prepared.
The day of the race was cool, with a little bit of win. Government race director did the suitable sacrifice to the operating gods (Paavo Nurmi, Willie Ritola, plus others in runner’s heaven), to insure good climate within the Windy metropolis.
Connor Mantz hit the splits excellent, 14:23 for 5k, 29:20 for 10k, 44:04 for 15k and at 20k, hit 59:00 for 20k, that’s 4:38 per mile to 4:49 per mile tempo, sports activities followers. Connor hit the half marathon in 1:02:19, proper on American document tempo.
From the half marathon, Connor stayed centered, operating 1:13:40 for 25k, 1:28:24 for 30k and 1:34:38 for 20 miles. Connor Mantz was on it, racing with Alex Masai, a competitor that he had run towards in faculty. ” We spoke throughout the race, ” famous Connor submit race.” I requested Alex to guide with six miles, and he stated he would for 1k, that actually helped.” Famous Connor submit race. Connor hit 35k in 1:43:15.
Round 22 miles, Connor Mantz dropped from 4:51 tempo, the tempo wanted to set the AR. Connor ran a 5:05 mile at 22 miles. In mile 23, Connor Mantz, operating alongside Alex Masai, ran a 4:52, bringing him again on document tempo. Submit race, Connor Mantz advised media that he was questioning if he must go to Valencia (Dec. 7) to strive a second time for the American document? Connor Mantz returned to the race at hand and stayed on tempo. Connor went 4:52 in mile 23, 4:47 in mile 24, and hit 40k in 1:58:12.
Connor Mantz was flying!
40k was hit at 4:44, then, the physique began to protest. Connor ran mile 25 in 5:05, however from 25.2 to the end, Connor Mantz referred to as on the whole lot he had, these runs at 7300 ft, these hill repeats and tempo runs, and his conversations with Coach Eyestone. Connor Mantz ran a 4:41 for the ultimate mile, his second quickest of your complete race, to complete in 2:04:43.
The American document is now Connor Mantz. It has been almost two weeks. I hope he’s having fun with it. Media reviews (through social media) be aware that Connor Mantz’ cell phone has been continuous since October 12, 2025.
Keep in mind, Connor Mantz completed fourth? He thanks Alex Masai, who completed third within the submit occasion presser emceed by James O’Brien, very long time scribe and writer of NYAC Winged Foot journal.
Oh, and closing deep ideas. Connor Mantz has goals of the marathon, however over the winter he’s going again to cross nation. Connor and I spoke about his want to run World Cross Nation in Tallahassee (January 10, 2025) post-race in Boston in April and after Chicago Marathon.
Cross-country is the diploma of separation for a lot of elite marathoners.
The nice sports activities author, Joe Henderson, approach again in 1970, wrote: “Cross-country is the assembly place of the miler to the marathoner. ” How true. Cross-country builds stamina, endurance, character and focus.
Properly carried out Connor Mantz, your journey from highschool cross nation to school cross nation to American document holder within the marahton has been inspiring. We want you a lot extra nice races and lots of “podium finishes” !
Take pleasure in my embed of the submit race presser.
