Conner Blair Mantz (born December 8, 1996) is an American long-distance runner, who specializes in the marathon. He ran collegiately for Brigham Young University and won the 2020 and 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. Mantz was the winner of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials. He has competed professionally for Nike since 2021.
 Mantz at the 2023 Chicago Marathon | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Conner Blair Mantz |
| Born | December 8, 1996 Logan, Utah, U.S. |
| Home town | Smithfield, Utah, U.S. |
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| Spouse | Kylie Mantz[1] |
| Sport | |
| Country |  United States |
| Sport | Track and Field, Road running Cross country running |
| Event(s) | 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, Half marathon, Marathon |
| University team | BYU Cougars |
| Turned pro | December 2021 |
| Coached by | Ed Eyestone |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal bests | |
Background and youth sports
editMantz completed his first half marathon at age 12, which motivated him to participate in other races.[3] 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.[4] Mantz also represented the United States in the junior race at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Guiyang, China, placing 29th over 8 km and 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][4] Upon returning in 2017, Mantz redshirted his first year at BYU.[4]
His great grandfather, Paul Mantz, was a noted air racing pilot and flight instructor.[citation needed]
Collegiate competition
editMantz 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. This victory broke a streak of wins by international athletes, making Mantz 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, finishing in a course record of 28:33.1.[11] The win concluded an undefeated season of cross country for the collegiate.
Performances by Mantz on the track included a world-leading performance of 13:34.46 over 5,000m at the UW Invitational in February 2021.[12] His time also broke the BYU school record for the indoor 5,000m. 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
edit2021
edit
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 competed again in the half marathon in March 2022, taking fifth at the NYC half marathon in 1:01.40.
2022
editIn 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, and his performance was the second fastest marathon debut by an American, closely trailing Leonard Korir's debut record of 2:07:56.[17]
2023
editAt 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
editMantz 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]
Achievements
editNational championships
edit| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | USATF 20 km Championships | New Haven, Connecticut | 1st | 20 km | 59:08 |
| USATF 8 km Championships | Kingsport, Tennessee | 2nd | 8 km | 22:42 | |
| 2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships | Eugene, Oregon | 4th | 5000 m | 13:11.81 | |
| 7th | 10000 m | 28:31.24 | |||
| 2022 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships | Spokane, Washington | 4th | 3000 m | 7:49.43 | |
| 2021 | USA Half Marathon Championships | Hardeeville, South Carolina | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:00:55 |
| United States Olympic Trials | Eugene, Oregon | 5th | 10,000 m | 27:59.37 | |
| 8th | 5000 m | 13:32.69 |
BYU
edit| 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 1 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
edit| Year | Foot Locker Cross Country Championships | New Balance Indoor Nationals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 10th 15:27.0[25] |
|||||
| 2013-14 | 7th 15:23.0[26] |
5000m 14:24:33 1st[27] |
Brooks PR 2 mile 4th 8:56.62 | |||
| 2012-13 | 12th 15:32.3[28] |
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
edit- ^ Love, marriage and running: How these Olympic athletes’ families juggle demands of being elite
- ^ a b c Conner Mantz at World Athletics
- ^ Roper, Jake (October 18, 2022). "Conner Mantz: A story of starting lines, finish lines, and everything in-between". The Daily Universe. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Conner Mantz - Men's Cross Country 2017". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ 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 October 12, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Turner, Jason (May 28, 2015). "Mantz was more than an elite runner". The Herald Journal. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
- ^ "Mantz's Mission Before His Mission". MileSplit United States. May 14, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Conner Mantz, Whittni Orton make BYU history at NCAA cross country championship". Deseret News. November 20, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ a b Gault, Jonathan. "Conner Mantz Ends American Drought, NAU Men Reassert Themselves As Kings At 2020 NCAA Cross Country Championships". LetsRun.com. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Mantz wins national title - again". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Conner Mantz, BYU: 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country National Athlete of the Year ::: USTFCCCA". Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Mantz Clocks World-Leading Time in 5000m, Smashes School Record". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "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 October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Mantz takes 8th place in 5000m final on last day of U.S. Olympic Trials". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ 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 February 17, 2024.
- ^ Knapp, Mike. "Conner Mantz Runs 2nd Fastest American Debut Marathon- 2:08:16". LetsRun.com. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
- ^ "Conner Mantz Was Blacking Out And Hypothermic At End Of Boston Marathon". FloTrack.com. April 17, 2023. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. 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 October 26, 2023.
- ^ 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 February 3, 2024.
- ^ Gault, Jonathan (August 10, 2024). "Training Partners Conner Mantz & Clayton Young Finish Top 10 in 2024 Olympic Marathon". Let's Run. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ^ Effress, Sarah (November 3, 2024). "New York Marathon live results: Updated list of 2024 winners from all four divisions". The Sporting News. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
- ^ 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 January 19, 2022.
- ^ 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
External links
edit- Conner Mantz on Instagram
- Conner Mantz 2021 Training blog
- Conner Mantz at Mormon Wiki
- Conner Mantz at World Athletics
- Conner Mantz Profile at Wanda Diamond League
- Conner Mantz Profile at Strava
- Conner Mantz Cross Country profile at BYU Cougars
- Conner Mantz at www.USATF.org
- Conner Mantz at Team USA
- Conner Mantz at Olympics.com