Conner Mantz

Conner Blair Mantz (born December 8, 1996) is an American long-distance runner, who competes for Nike. He ran collegiately for Brigham Young University, and won the 2020 and 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.

High school

Mantz attended Sky View High School in Smithfield, Utah. He was a three-time All-American at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships.

Mantz also represented the United States in the junior race at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Guiyang, China, placing 29th in 25:28 over 8 km and leading Team USA to a 6th-place finish.

College

Mantz ran for Brigham Young University (BYU). He clinched his first national title at the 2020 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. 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.

The 2021 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships saw Mantz repeat as the winner. 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. The win concluded an undefeated season of cross country for the collegiate.

Notable 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. His time also broke the BYU school record for the indoor 5,000m. Later that year, Mantz finished runner up in the 10,000m at the 2021 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Mantz also competed in the 2020 United States Olympic trials for 5,000m and 10,000m, placing fifth and eighth, respectively.

Professional

2021-2022

Shortly after turning professional in December 2021, Mantz won the USA Half Marathon Championships in Hardeeville, South Carolina with a time of 1:00:55.

On March 20, Mantz placed 5th at 2022 United Airlines NYC Half-Marathon in 1:01:40.

2022

Mantz debuted at the marathon distance, to finish 7th at the 2022 Chicago Marathon in 2:08:16 as the top American finisher. His performance marked the second fastest marathon debut by an American, closely trailing Leonard Korir's debut record of 2:07:56.

2023

At the 2023 Boston Marathon, Mantz stayed in the lead pack for most of the race. Running with Eliud Kipchoge, Evans Chebet, CJ Albertson and others, they went through the half in 1:02:20. By the 20-mile mark, Mantz 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.

At the 2023 Chicago Marathon, Mantz earned sixth place overall and first American with a time of 2:07:47, lowering his personal best by 29 seconds, and meeting the qualifying time for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Mantz’s discovered a passion in running upon completing his first half marathon at age 12, which motivated him to participate in other races. At age 14, he finished a half marathon in 1:11:24, averaging a pace of 5:26.8 minutes per mile.

He took a two-year hiatus from competitive running after high school to undertake a mission to Ghana. Missions are a customary practice for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon returning in 2017, Mantz redshirted his first year at Brigham Young University (BYU). His great grandfather, Paul Mantz, was a noted air racing pilot and flight instructor.

National championships