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Conner Mantz

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Conner Mantz
Mantz at the 2023 Chicago Marathon
Personal information
Full nameConner Blair Mantz
Born (1996-12-08) December 8, 1996 (age 27)
Logan, Utah, U.S.
Home townSmithfield, Utah, U.S.
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
SpouseKylie Mantz[1]
Sport
Country United States
SportTrack and Field,
Road running
Cross country running
Event(s)1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, Half marathon, Marathon
University teamBYU Cougars
Turned proDecember 2021
Coached byEd Eyestone
Achievements and titles
Personal bests

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.

Background and youth sports

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Mantz 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

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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. 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

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2021

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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.[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

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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, 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

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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

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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]

Achievements

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National championships

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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

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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

[24]

Sky View High School

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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

[29]

References

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  1. ^ Love, marriage and running: How these Olympic athletes’ families juggle demands of being elite
  2. ^ a b c Conner Mantz at World Athletics
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b c "Conner Mantz - Men's Cross Country 2017". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  5. ^ 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)
  6. ^ Turner, Jason (May 28, 2015). "Mantz was more than an elite runner". The Herald Journal. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  7. ^ "Mantz's Mission Before His Mission". MileSplit United States. May 14, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  8. ^ "Conner Mantz, Whittni Orton make BYU history at NCAA cross country championship". Deseret News. November 20, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Mantz wins national title - again". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  11. ^ "Conner Mantz, BYU: 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country National Athlete of the Year ::: USTFCCCA". Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  12. ^ "Mantz Clocks World-Leading Time in 5000m, Smashes School Record". BYU Athletics - Official Athletics Website - BYU Cougars. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ Dickinson, Marley (December 6, 2021). "Connor Mantz wins USATF Half Marathon Championships". runningmagazine.ca. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Knapp, Mike. "Conner Mantz Runs 2nd Fastest American Debut Marathon- 2:08:16". LetsRun.com. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Lorge Butler, Sarah (October 8, 2023). "American Men Have the Day They Needed at the 2023 Chicago Marathon". Runnersworld.com. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  21. ^ Battaglia, Joe (February 3, 2024). "Conner Mantz, Clayton Young Finish 1-2 At U.S. Olympic Trials Mens Marathon". FloTrack. Retrieved February 3, 2024.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ Conner Mantz Brigham Young University results TFRRS
  25. ^ 2014 Foot Locker Cross Country National Championship Boys Results Foot Locker Cross Country Championships
  26. ^ 2013 Foot Locker Cross Country National Championship Boys Results Foot Locker Cross Country Championships
  27. ^ Bloom, Marc (March 25, 2014). "Conner Mantz Is Confident After New Balance Nationals Win". Runner's World. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  28. ^ 2012 Foot Locker Cross Country National Championship Boys Results Foot Locker Cross Country Championships
  29. ^ Conner Mantz bio Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah Athletic.net
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