Connor Mantz is a only a very good man who can run very quick marathons.
Oh, and now he’s the American file holder at 2:04:43.
Significantly, I’ve interviewed this outstanding athlete a number of instances, and he’s all the time considerate, even when has simply completed 26.2 miles of racing! 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 race.
So, right here’s the inside track on Connor Mantz!
He’s was not an in a single day sensation! Fact is, nobody actually is!
It’s a must to decide to plenty of laborious 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 laborious work, focus and a love of the game. Our sport isn’t for the faint-hearted, nor for athletes who shouldn’t have persistence.
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 implies you might be one of many high 40 boys within the nation, it’s the place Suzy Favor Hamilton, Meb Keflezighi, Charles Alexander ran properly, amongst others). In highschool, Connor received 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 put up 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’s not 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 educate Connor Mantz, and his coaching accomplice, Clayton Younger, amongst many superb athletes in Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah.
This author has identified Coach Eyestone for in all probability 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 imagine. Ed Eyestone, per his athletes, is all about maintaining it easy and targeted. 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 achieved the whole lot underneath God’s inexperienced earth to organize 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 12 months. 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 received wince 2008 ( did you guess, Galen Rupp?). Connor got here again in 2021 and received the NCAA cross nation, then, took second within the 10,000m on the NCAA Cross Nation. (Need to see how Connor Mantz educated in 2021, examine 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 (Velocity Metropolis) made Lee Evans (former WR holder at 400 meters) run cross nation races! Connor’s energy from highschool, to varsity, 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. Working properly 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, informed media put up race that he “practically 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 high three end. Boston Maraton is a troublesome course, and have to be revered. (Invoice Rodgers, who received 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 commonplace for Paris 2024.
Connor Mantz and his coaching accomplice, Clayton Younger, went one, two on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials on February 4, 2024. Connor was injured , and spent plenty 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 damage was uphill runs, the place he would pushed downhill in order to not problem the therapeutic muscle groups. Connor and Clayton ready for the rigorous course in Paris.
Oh and on the U.S. Olympic Trials, Connor ran the ten,000m a severe 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 informed this author, ” I didn’t know if I might 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 accomplice 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 Large 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 high three, ending 4th in 2:05:08. As Boston Marathon, for some unfathomable purpose isn’t ” American-record authorized” , Connor knew he wanted a authorized course to interrupt the twenty-three 12 months previous American file 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 file (additionally world file) on the time (2002), whereas profitable the London Marathon in 2:05.08. That fall, Khalid received his fourth Chicago Marathon title (1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002, plus a second in 2001), in 2:05:55, the primary man underneath two hours, six minutes within the marathon twice in a single 12 months!
Connor Mantz’s run in Chicago was an instance of nice coaching, nice focus, some superb races increase 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 organize for Chicago. One month later, Connor Mantz received the #BeachtoBeacon10k, a race established by 1984 Olympic champion, Joan Benoit Samuelson, breaking the 23 12 months previous course file (Gilbert Okari) along with his superb 27:26. Connor Mantz joined Ben True as solely different American male to win Seashore to Beacon.
Yet one more race, the US 20 kilometer champs, previous to the deliberate assault for the American file, was received 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. Govt 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 file tempo.
From the half marathon, Connor stayed targeted, 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 in opposition to in faculty. ” We spoke throughout the race, ” famous Connor put up race.” I requested Alex to steer with six miles, and he stated he would for 1k, that basically helped.” Famous Connor put up 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 file tempo. Submit race, Connor Mantz informed media that he was questioning if he must go to Valencia (Dec. 7) to attempt a second time for the American file? 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 all the race, to complete in 2:04:43.
The American file is now Connor Mantz. It has been practically two weeks. I hope he’s having fun with it. Media experiences (by way of social media) observe that Connor Mantz’ cell phone has been continuous since October 12, 2025.
Bear in mind, Connor Mantz completed fourth? He thanks Alex Masai, who completed third within the put up occasion presser emceed by James O’Brien, very long time scribe and writer of NYAC Winged Foot journal.
Oh, and remaining 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 need 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 good 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.
Effectively achieved Connor Mantz, your journey from highschool cross nation to varsity cross nation to American file holder within the marahton has been inspiring. We want you a lot extra nice races and plenty of “podium finishes” !
Take pleasure in my embed of the put up race presser.
