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Conner Mantz’s Magnificent Obsession
Yesterday, at the 129th Boston marathon, we had a glorious day of running.
On the men’s elite side, John Korir, brother of 2012 Boston champ Wesley Korir, took first in the second fastest winning time ever at Boston.
Behind him, the second and third were divided by a nanosecond. Alphonce Felix-Sanchez of Tanzania and Cybrian Kotut of Kenya, both were timed in 2:05.04, with the Tanzanian getting the nod.
Connor Mantz of the USA came in fourth after hoping he could break off the challenge. He ran 2:05:08, five minutes better than his last performance in Boston, where he ran the last two miles at six minutes per mile after running sub-five minutes per mile for 24.3 miles. Yet Connor was less than ecstatic.
This time, in Boston, Connor was a different runner. Trained by his college coach, BYU coach Ed Eyestone, and trained with BYU’s former classmate Clayton Young, Mantz and Young are the enthusiastic leaders of an American renaissance in the men’s marathon. Mantz used the experience he had with the Boston course in 2023 and ran a strong race in 2025. It should be noted, thoughtful reader, that Connor Mantz’ 2:05:08 surpasses the current American record of Khalid Khannouchi, who ran 2:05:38 at the London marathon. The issue is that the Boston Marathon course is not world record worthy, due to the difference in distance from the start to the finish. Nonetheless, Connor Mantz has run faster than Galen Rupp on Boston, the 4 time Olympian, who has a silver medal at 10,000m (London 2012) and bronze in the marathon (Rio 2016). Connor Mantz wants to follow Rupp onto the podium. He is not worried about fast times, he wants to be at the top of the podium!
Connor Mantz may be a bit overenthusiastic, but that is not bad. Last June, this writer observed a gutsy Mantz blistering the pace for the Olympic Trials 10,000m for the first eight laps. “I did not know if I could finish, “ Connor told me at the time. Mantz pushed the pace in the Olympic Trials 10,000m, keeping it honest and painful.
Last summer, on the Paris Olympic marathon course, perhaps the most difficult Olympic course in decades, with a mile-long hill climb after 15k, a treacherous downhill, and then a short uphill drive that crushed many dreams of Olympic success, Connor finished a respectable eighth, with teammate Clayton Young taking ninth.
Last fall, both Connor and Clayton followed up their Olympic Trials marathon one, two, and 8:9 at the Paris Olympics with strong races at the 2024 NYC Marathon. On the very tough course, Connor Mantz finished sixth in 2:09:00 and Clayton Young finished seventh, ran 2:09:05.
In January 2025, Connor Mantz broke the AR held by Ryan Hall in 59:17, breaking Ryan Hall’s 59:43. In March 2025, Connor ran a 59:15 for the United NYC Marathon.
Connor Mantz was ready for Boston.
In Boston, Connor only led when the pace was lagging. “I controlled my leading, only leading when I needed.”
Connor and Clayton were upfront most of the race. At 20, when John Korir ran a 4:41 mile, followed by a 4:32, the pack did not give chase. “I covered all the moves but one. That one was the big one.” Connor told this writer post-event.
“I want to be on the podium,” noted Connor Mantz. “Podium winners end up winning races someday.” Noted, the marathon warrior.
Ed Eyestone prepares them well. “
Mantz added, “We have a long run where we need to run 5:30 per mile up a long grade.” The run is 24 miles. “ My training partner keeps the pace honest when I want to slow it down.”
When asked if he had a workout that was good for him but that he despised, Connor retorted that he loves training and enjoys his running, but that the long run is both challenging and beneficial for the task.
Connor Mantz wants to win a Marathon major, an Olympic medal, and a podium finish.
The podium may come, it should come. With his two athletes, this coach believes that they are training well, racing well, and if they stay with the plan, success will come. Connor Mantz and Clayton Young have run well now at an Olympic Trials, Paris Olympics, New York and now, Boston Marathon.
Remember, one of their teammates, Kenneth Rooks, took Olympic silver by charging to the lead, with 600 meters to go, and one of the best steeplechase fields ever assembled breathing down his neck! Only Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakaali, the best steeplechase racer in the world, could make it by Rooks.
In Boston, Connor Mantz ran 2:05:08 for 4th, and Clayton Young ran 2:07:08, enough for both to get attention on one of the world’s most challenging and technical marathon courses.
Connor Mantz seemed to recover well just a few hours after the race. He gave me a quick interview post race. Connor told me that he would take a few weeks to recover, and then, he will decide on upcoming races. I asked Connor if he will race the 10,000 meters at the US Champs, he said that he is hoping to, but no 10,000m prior to the US Champs.
Connor Mantz also told me that he would like to race on the World Cross Country team. Connor is a fantastic cross country runner. He is a tough track athlete and a very promising marathoner. Racing in Boston as well as Connor has (and Clayton) is pretty incredible. The global marathons are the big time. Racing at this level is tougher each race.
Connor Mantz and Clayton Young gave it their all. That is the only way that you can race at this level.
In the next few weeks, Connor Mantz and Clayton Young will begin the journey again, pursuing the podium.
Obsessions are good.
We wish them much success. It will be fun to watch Connor and Clayton’s racing in the future.
