Conner Mantz is scheduled to compete in the New York City Marathon this Sunday, his first marathon race since breaking the American record. The professional runner is currently working to rebuild his fitness following a significant sacral stress fracture that sidelined him for 12 weeks.
Mantz, who holds the American marathon record of 2:04:43, set the mark during the 2025 Chicago Marathon. His performance in Chicago was nearly six seconds shy of Kenya's Alex Masai and was nearly one minute faster than Khalid Khannouchi's 2002 record. Despite the historic achievement, Mantz admitted to feeling disappointment regarding his time and expressed a desire for a podium finish.
The injury that sidelined Mantz resulted from returning to training too quickly after his record-breaking run. The sacral stress fracture forced him into a period of physical therapy and reduced mobility. He recently resumed running outside, including a 20-mile run along the Provo River Parkway Trail where he averaged a 5:45 pace at 4,500 feet of elevation.
Mantz is a graduate of Brigham Young University, where he won two NCAA Division I Cross-Country Championships. He currently trains in Provo, Utah, under coach Ed Eyestone. The runner's training routine involves logging between 100 and 130 miles per week.
Looking toward future goals, Mantz has expressed interest in competing in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
