Conner_Mantz

Conner Mantz

Conner Mantz

American long-distance runner

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.

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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.[5] 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.[6]

For college, he chose Brigham Young University (BYU) among offers from several institutions, including Princeton and Furman.[7] During his first two years at BYU, Mantz, who is Mormon, took a hiatus from running while undertaking a mission to Ghana.[8][5] Upon returning in 2017, Mantz redshirted his first year at BYU.[5]

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.[9][10] 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.[10]

The 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships saw Mantz repeat as the winner.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

Senior competition

2021

Mantz (left) and Galen Rupp compete in the 10000 metres at the 2020 US Olympic Trials.

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.[15]

ln December 2021, Mantz won the USA Half Marathon Championships in Hardeeville, South Carolina, with a time of 1:00:55.[16] He competed again in the half marathon in March 2022, taking 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.[17] 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.[18]

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.[19] 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.[20] His time met the qualifying standard for the 2024 Paris Olympics.[21]

2024

Mantz won the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.[22] He ran much of the race with his training partner, Clayton Young, who finished second.

Achievements

National championships

More information Year, Competition ...

BYU

More information Representing BYU Cougars, School Year ...

[23]

Sky View High School

More information Year, Foot Locker Cross Country Championships ...

[28]

References

  1. [1]
    Conner Mantz at World Athletics
  2. [2]
    Conner Mantz at World Athletics
  3. [3]
    Conner Mantz at World Athletics
  4. [4]
    Roper, Jake (2022-10-18). "Conner Mantz: A story of starting lines, finish lines, and everything in-between". The Daily Universe. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  5. [5]
    "Conner Mantz - Men's Cross Country 2017". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  6. [6]
    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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. [7]
    Turner, Jason (2015-05-28). "Mantz was more than an elite runner". The Herald Journal. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
  8. [8]
    "Mantz's Mission Before His Mission". MileSplit United States. 2014-05-14. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  9. [9]
    "Conner Mantz, Whittni Orton make BYU history at NCAA cross country championship". Deseret News. 2021-11-20. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  10. [10]
    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.
  11. [11]
    "Mantz wins national title - again". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  12. [12]
    "Conner Mantz, BYU: 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country National Athlete of the Year ::: USTFCCCA". Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  13. [13]
    "Mantz Clocks World-Leading Time in 5000m, Smashes School Record". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  14. [14]
    "BYU's Conner Mantz places second in the 10,000-meter run at the NCAA Track and Field Championships". Deseret News. 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  15. [15]
    "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.
  16. [16]
    Dickinson, Marley (6 December 2021). "Connor Mantz wins USATF Half Marathon Championships". runningmagazine.ca. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  17. [17]
    Bush, Scott (2022-09-05). "USA Track & Field | Mantz, D'Amato Charge to Victory at the USATF 20 km Road Championships". usatf.org. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  18. [18]
    Knapp, Mike. "Conner Mantz Runs 2nd Fastest American Debut Marathon- 2:08:16". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  19. [19]
    "Conner Mantz Was Blacking Out And Hypothermic At End Of Boston Marathon". FloTrack.com. 17 April 2023. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  20. [20]
    Carveth, Jesse (2023-10-09). "Conner Mantz And Clayton Young Become First Americans To Run Olympic Qualifying Times At Chicago Marathon". Marathon Handbook. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  21. [21]
    Lorge Butler, Sarah (2023-10-08). "American Men Have the Day They Needed at the 2023 Chicago Marathon". Runnersworld.com. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
  22. [22]
    Battaglia, Joe (2024-02-03). "Conner Mantz, Clayton Young Finish 1-2 At U.S. Olympic Trials Mens Marathon". FloTrack. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  23. [23]
    Conner Mantz Brigham Young University results TFRRS
  24. [24]
    2014 Foot Locker Cross Country National Championship Boys Results Foot Locker Cross Country Championships
  25. [25]
    2013 Foot Locker Cross Country National Championship Boys Results Foot Locker Cross Country Championships
  26. [26]
    Bloom, Marc (2014-03-25). "Conner Mantz Is Confident After New Balance Nationals Win". Runner's World. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  27. [27]
    2012 Foot Locker Cross Country National Championship Boys Results Foot Locker Cross Country Championships
  28. [28]
    Conner Mantz bio Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah Athletic.net
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