Conner Mantz
{{Short description|American long-distance runner}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Conner Mantz
| fullname = Conner Blair Mantz
| nickname =
| image = Conner Mantz 2023 Chicago Marathon.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Mantz at the 2023 Chicago Marathon
| sport = Track and Field,
Road running
Cross country running
| event = 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, Half marathon, Marathon
| universityteam = BYU Cougars
| club =
| turnedpro = December 2021
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|12|8}}
| birth_place = Logan, Utah, U.S.
| country = {{USA}}
| hometown = Smithfield, Utah, U.S.
| coach = Ed Eyestone
| height = 175 cm
| weight =
| pb = {{ubl
|Outdoor {{iaaf name|14628442}}
|1500 m: 3:37.96 (Clovis 2021)
|5000 m: 13:11.81 (Eugene 2022)
|10,000 m: 27:25.23 (San Juan Capistrano 2022)
|Indoor {{iaaf name|14628442}}
|3000 m: 7:41.43{{AthAbbr|i|indoors}} (New York 2022)
|5000 m: 13:10.24{{AthAbbr|i|indoors}} (Boston 2022)
|Road {{iaaf name|14628442}}
|Half marathon: 59:17 AR (Houston 2025)
|Marathon: 2:05:08 (Boston 2025)
}}
| medaltemplates =
}}
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. At the 2025 Houston Half Marathon, Mantz set a new American record time of 59:17, besting the previous record of 59:43 set by Ryan Hall in 2007. He has competed professionally for Nike since 2021.
Background and youth sports
Mantz completed his first half marathon at age 12, which motivated him to participate in other races.{{Cite web |last=Roper |first=Jake |date=October 18, 2022 |title=Conner Mantz: A story of starting lines, finish lines, and everything in-between |url=https://universe.byu.edu/2022/10/18/conner-mantz-a-story-of-starting-lines-finish-lines-and-everything-in-between/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=The Daily Universe |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Conner Mantz - Men's Cross Country 2017 |url=https://byucougars.com/sports/mens-cross-country/roster/season/2017/player/conner-mantz |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars}} 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.{{Cite web |last=LetsRun.comMarch 28 |title=Justyn Knight and Conner Mantz talk after finishing 25th and 29th at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2015/03/justyn-knight-and-conner-mantz-talk-after-finishing-25th-and-29th-at-the-2015-iaaf-world-cross-country-championships/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}}
Mantz committed to Brigham Young University (BYU), among offers from several other institutions, including Princeton and Furman.{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Jason |date=May 28, 2015 |title=Mantz was more than an elite runner |url=https://www.hjnews.com/allaccess/mantz-was-more-than-an-elite-runner/article_0b084835-c62d-5d2d-ae8d-f394e3660ad4.html |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=The Herald Journal |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=May 14, 2014 |title=Mantz's Mission Before His Mission |url=https://www.milesplit.com/articles/154240/mantzs-mission-before-his-mission#:~:text=MileSplit%20Spotlight%20Brandon%20Miles%20May,to%20the%20African%20nation%20of |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=MileSplit United States |language=en}} Upon returning in 2017, Mantz redshirted his first year at BYU.
His great grandfather, Paul Mantz, was a noted air racing pilot and flight instructor.{{citation needed|date=April 2014}}
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.{{Cite web |date=November 20, 2021 |title=Conner Mantz, Whittni Orton make BYU history at NCAA cross country championship |url=https://www.deseret.com/2021/11/20/22792393/conner-mantz-whittni-orton-make-byu-history-at-ncaa-cross-country-championships |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Gault |first=Jonathan |title=Conner Mantz Ends American Drought, NAU Men Reassert Themselves As Kings At 2020 NCAA Cross Country Championships |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2021/03/conner-mantz-ends-the-american-drought-nau-men-reassert-themselves-as-kings-at-2020-ncaa-cross-country-championships/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}} 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.
The 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships saw Mantz repeat as the winner.{{Cite web |title=Mantz wins national title - again |url=https://byucougars.com/news/2021/11/20/mantz-wins-national-title-again |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Conner Mantz, BYU: 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Cross Country National Athlete of the Year ::: USTFCCCA |url=https://www.ustfccca.org/awards/conner-mantz-byu-2021-ncaa-division-i-mens-cross-country-national-athlete-of-the-year |access-date=2023-10-12 |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Mantz Clocks World-Leading Time in 5000m, Smashes School Record |url=https://byucougars.com/news/2021/02/13/mantz-clocks-world-leading-time-in-5000m-smashes-school-record-1 |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars}} 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.{{Cite web |date=June 10, 2021 |title=BYU’s Conner Mantz places second in the 10,000-meter run at the NCAA Track and Field Championships |url=https://www.deseret.com/2021/6/9/22525985/byu-cougars-conner-mantz-places-second-in-the-10000-meter-run-at-ncaa-track-and-field-championships |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}
Senior competition
= 2021 =
File:Mantz Rupp OlympicTrials 2021.jpg 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.{{Cite web |title=Mantz takes 8th place in 5000m final on last day of U.S. Olympic Trials |url=https://byucougars.com/news/2021/06/27/mantz-takes-8th-place-in-5000m-final-on-last-day-of-us-olympic-trials |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars}}
ln December 2021, Mantz won the USA Half Marathon Championships in Hardeeville, South Carolina with a time of 1:00:55.{{cite web |url=https://runningmagazine.ca/sections/runs-races/connor-mantz-wins-usatf-half-marathon-championships/ |title=Connor Mantz wins USATF Half Marathon Championships |work=runningmagazine.ca |date=December 6, 2021 |accessdate=December 8, 2021 |author=Dickinson, Marley}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Bush |first=Scott |date=September 5, 2022 |title=USA Track & Field {{!}} Mantz, D’Amato Charge to Victory at the USATF 20 km Road Championships |url=https://usatf.org/news/2022/mantz-d%E2%80%99amato-charge-to-victory-at-the-usatf-20-km |access-date=2024-02-17 |website=usatf.org}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Knapp |first=Mike |title=Conner Mantz Runs 2nd Fastest American Debut Marathon- 2:08:16 |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2022/10/conner-mantz-runs-2nd-fastest-american-debut-marathon-20816/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}}
= 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.flotrack.org/collections/tag/professional/video?playing=10888383 |title=Conner Mantz Was Blacking Out And Hypothermic At End Of Boston Marathon |website=FloTrack.com |date=April 17, 2023 |access-date=April 18, 2023 |archive-date=April 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418153617/https://www.flotrack.org/collections/tag/professional/video?playing=10888383}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Carveth |first=Jesse |date=October 9, 2023 |title=Conner Mantz And Clayton Young Become First Americans To Run Olympic Qualifying Times At Chicago Marathon |url=https://marathonhandbook.com/conner-mantz-and-clayton-young-become-first-americans-to-run-olympic-qualifying-times-at-chicago-marathon/ |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=Marathon Handbook |language=en-US}} His time met the qualifying standard for the 2024 Paris Olympics.{{cite web |last=Lorge Butler |first=Sarah |date=October 8, 2023 |title=American Men Have the Day They Needed at the 2023 Chicago Marathon |url=https://www.runnersworld.com/races-places/a45444610/american-men-2023-chicago-marathon/ |access-date=October 11, 2023 |website=Runnersworld.com}}
= 2024 =
Mantz won the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics,{{Cite web |last=Battaglia |first=Joe |date=February 3, 2024 |title=Conner Mantz, Clayton Young Finish 1-2 At U.S. Olympic Trials Mens Marathon |url=https://www.flotrack.org/articles/12023340-conner-mantz-clayton-young-finish-1-2-at-us-olympic-trials-mens-marathon |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=FloTrack |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Gault |first=Jonathan |date=August 10, 2024 |title=Training Partners Conner Mantz & Clayton Young Finish Top 10 in 2024 Olympic Marathon
|url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2024/08/training-partners-conner-mantz-clayton-young-finish-top-10-in-2024-olympic-marathon/ |access-date=2024-08-10 |website=Let's Run |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Effress |first=Sarah |date=November 3, 2024 |title=New York Marathon live results: Updated list of 2024 winners from all four divisions
|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/tsn/news/new-york-marathon-2024-live-results-winners/a16d7c55746b9b44c7ad19ed|access-date=2024-11-03 |website=The Sporting News |language=en}} His time of 2:09:00 was the fastest for an American man since Alberto Salazar in 1981.{{Cite web |last=Rock |first=Brian |date=November 6, 2024 |title=The 2024 New York City Marathon: Three Interesting Data Insights (Plus More)
|url=https://runningwithrock.com/2024-nyc-marathon-data/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Running with Rock |language=en}}
= 2025 =
Mantz set the American record in the half-marathon in January, running 59:17.{{Cite web |last=Cabrero |first=Alex |date=2025-01-23 |title=Provo's Conner Mantz sets American half marathon record |url=https://ksltv.com/local-news/provos-conner-mantz-sets-american-half-marathon-record/730316/ |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=KSLTV.com |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |last=Dallas |first=Kelsey |date=2025-01-21 |title=What Conner Mantz said about breaking the American half-marathon record on Citius podcast |url=https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/01/21/conner-mantz-quote-american-record-half-marathon/ |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=Deseret News |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Dallas |first=Kelsey |date=2025-03-16 |title=Conner Mantz impresses again 2 months after setting American half-marathon record |url=https://www.deseret.com/sports/2025/03/16/conner-mantz-nyc-half/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Deseret News |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Gault |first=Johnathon |date=2025-04-21 |title=Conner Mantz Breaks Through with 2:05:08 PB to Finish 4th at 2025 Boston Marathon |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2025/04/conner-mantz-breaks-through-with-20508-pb-to-finish-4th-at-2025-boston-marathon/ |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}}
Achievements
=National championships=
| {{AchievementTable|Event=yes}} |
| rowspan=3|2021
|rowspan=2|United States Olympic Trials |rowspan=2|Eugene, Oregon |5th |10,000 m |
| 8th
|5000 m |
| USA Half Marathon Championships
|bgcolor=gold|1st |Half Marathon |1:00:55 |
| rowspan=5|2022
|2022 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships |4th |3000 m |7:49.43 |
| rowspan=2|2022 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
|rowspan=2|Eugene, Oregon |4th |5000 m |13:11.81 |
| 7th
|10000 m |28:31.24 |
| USATF 8 km Championships
|bgcolor=silver|2nd |8 km |22:42 |
| USATF 20 km Championships
|bgcolor=gold|1st |59:08 |
| rowspan=3|2023
|rowspan=2|2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships |rowspan=2|Eugene, Oregon |6th |10,000 m |28:29.36 |
| 10th
|5000 m |13:30.85 |
| USATF 20 km Championships
|bgcolor=silver|2nd |59:16 |
| rowspan=2|2024
|rowspan=2|United States Olympic Trials |bgcolor=gold|1st |Marathon |
| Eugene, Oregon
|6th |10,000 m |
BYU
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||||
| colspan="7" | 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 |
| rowspan=1|2021-22 Red Shirt-Senior | bgcolor=gold rowspan=1|1st 23:01.0 | bgcolor=gold rowspan=1|1st 28:33.1 | |||
| rowspan=1|2020-21 Senior | bgcolor=gold rowspan=1|1st 22:54.4 | bgcolor=gold rowspan=1|1st 29:26.1 | rowspan=1| | bgcolor=silver rowspan=1|10,000m 2nd 27:42.46 | |
| rowspan=1|2019-20 Junior | bgcolor=gold rowspan=1|1st 23:33.8 | style="background:#c90;" rowspan=1|3rd 30:40.0 | rowspan=1| | rowspan=1| | |
| rowspan=2 |2018-19 Sophomore | style="background:#c90;" rowspan=2 |3rd 23:24.7 | rowspan=2 |10th 29:17.1 | bgcolor=silver rowspan=2 |3000m 2nd 7:50.90 | rowspan=1 |3000m 7th 7:56.72 | rowspan=1 |5000m 7th 14:09.20 |
| 5000m 10th 13:51.45 | rowspan=1 |10,000m 4th 29:19.93 | ||||
| rowspan=2 |2017-18 Freshman | rowspan=2 | | rowspan=2 | | rowspan=1 |3000m 10th 8:02.75 | rowspan=2 | | rowspan=2 |10,000m 22nd 31:37.34 |
| 5000m 6th 14:01.96 |
Sky View High School
[https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/Athlete.aspx?AID=4207296&L=0 Conner Mantz bio] Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah Athletic.net
References
{{Reflist|3}}
External links
- {{Instagram|connermantz}}
- [https://fastrunningblog.com/u/conner/ Conner Mantz 2021 Training blog]
- [https://www.mormonwiki.com/Conner_Mantz Conner Mantz] at Mormon Wiki
- {{World Athletics|14628442}}
- [https://www.diamondleague.com/athletes/14628442.html Conner Mantz Profile] at Wanda Diamond League
- [https://www.strava.com/athletes/33993248 Conner Mantz Profile] at Strava
- [https://byucougars.com/athlete/m-cross-country/1282020/conner-mantz Conner Mantz Cross Country profile] at BYU Cougars
- {{USATF|new_id=conner-mantz}}
- {{Team USA|new_id=conner-mantz}}
- {{Olympics.com profile|conner-mantz}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 2024 Summer Olympics}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mantz, Conner}}
Category:American male long-distance runners
Category:American male marathon runners
Category:BYU Cougars men's track and field athletes
Category:BYU Cougars men's cross country runners
Category:Sportspeople from Provo, Utah
Category:Sportspeople from Logan, Utah
Category:American Mormon missionaries in Ghana
Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States