Conner Mantz, the American marathon record holder, will compete in the New York City Marathon this Sunday, marking his first marathon race in one year. The former Brigham Young University standout is returning to distance competition following a significant sacral stress fracture that sidelined him for 12 weeks.
Recovery from injury
The upcoming race in New York City serves as a pivotal moment in Mantz's career as he attempts to reclaim his form after a period of injury. Mantz, who resides in Mapleton, Utah, has been working through a recovery process after a sacral stress fracture forced him to trade distance running for physical therapy and indoor pool workouts.
According to Runners World, the injury occurred after Mantz pushed himself too hard following his record-breaking performance. The athlete admitted that he had been kicking himself for the setback, noting that the injury serves as a humbling experience for an athlete who previously felt he had more to give. This recovery period has been a significant departure from his typical training regimen, which normally involves running between 100 and 130 miles per week.
A historic 2025 season
Mantz's return to the marathon distance follows a historic 2025 season. During the 2025 Chicago Marathon, Mantz broke a 23-year-old American record with a time of 2:04:43, finishing in fourth place. The performance saw him finish only six seconds behind Kenya's Alex Masai and nearly one minute faster than Khalid Khannouchi's 2002 time.
Prior to his record-breaking run in Chicago, Mantz had already established himself as a premier distance runner. According to NYRR, he broke an 18-year-old American record at the Houston Half Marathon in 2025 with a time of 59:17, a mark he improved less than two months later at the United Airlines NYC Half with a 59:15. His 2025 season also included a fourth-place finish at the Boston Marathon in 2:05:08 and a victory at the Bolder Boulder 10K with a time of 28:21.
National titles and collegiate success
The athlete's career is marked by several high-profile performances and national titles. In 2024, Mantz won the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with a time of 2:09:05 and finished eighth in the Paris Olympic Marathon, an event attended by more than 40 members of his family. He also recorded a sixth-place finish at the TCS New York City Marathon during his debut in 2024.
Beyond the marathon distance, Mantz has secured multiple national titles, including the 2021 USATF Half Marathon Championships and the 2022 USATF 20K Championships. His collegiate career at Brigham Young University included back-to-back NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in 2020 and 2021, making him the first American to win the event since Galen Rupp in 2008.
Personal life and mission
Before his professional running career took off, Mantz spent time serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghana between high school and college. During this period, he was limited to 30 minutes of exercise per day while focusing on teaching and studying.
Currently, Mantz lives in Utah with his wife, Kylie, who also has a background in competitive running. Kylie walked onto the BYU track team during her senior year and recorded a 2:43:49 in her first marathon. The couple, who met in a religion class during Mantz's junior year at BYU, welcomed their first child, a son, in July.
Future aspirations
Mantz's long-term athletic goals include a return to the Olympic podium. He has expressed a desire to compete at the highest level, specifically eyeing a spot among the top East African runners. His training is currently managed by his longtime coach, Ed Eystone, who has worked with him throughout his time at Brigham Young University.
Looking toward the future, Mantz has his sights set on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where he aims to compete for a medal and potentially break his own American marathon record.
As Mantz prepares for the streets of New York, he remains focused on his training and his long-term professional objectives. His journey from an injury-induced hiatus back to elite competition highlights the challenges faced by world-class marathoners.
