Conner Mantz
Conner Mantz (born 8 December 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. Running Career

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. Personal life
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). National championships

BYU

Sky View High School

External links
 
 Conner Mantz 2021 Training blog
 Conner Mantz Mormon Wiki
 
 Conner Mantz Profile Wanda Diamond League
 Conner Mantz Profile Strava
 Conner Mantz Cross Country profile BYU Cougars

References

1996 births
Living people
American male long-distance runners
BYU Cougars men's track and field athletes
BYU Cougars men's cross country runners
Sportspeople from Provo, Utah
Sportspeople from Logan, Utah