Conner Mantz, a former Brigham Young University (BYU) runner, made headlines at the 2025 Boston Marathon by finishing as the top American competitor. His remarkable performance not only solidified his status as one of the country’s elite marathoners but also showcased his resilience and determination on one of the most challenging courses in the world.
### A Historic Performance
Mantz completed the 26.2-mile race in **2 hours, 5 minutes, and 8 seconds**, securing **fourth place overall** [A](https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon/2025/04/21/2025-boston-marathon-conner-mantz-us-american-runner-results/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJwTERaNFVYZ2RKaDQ3N200Y2VBMWsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoieTJHM2NDVlJ2ZnB1ejhSZjNYNkVVIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LmJvc3Rvbi5jb21cL3Nwb3J0c1wvYm9zdG9uLW1hcmF0aG9uXC8yMDI1XC8wNFwvMjFcLzIwMjUtYm9zdG9uLW1hcmF0aG9uLWNvbm5lci1tYW50ei11cy1hbWVyaWNhbi1ydW5uZXItcmVzdWx0c1wvIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). His time was the **second-fastest ever recorded by an American at the Boston Marathon**, just 10 seconds shy of Ryan Hall’s 2011 record [A](https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon/2025/04/21/2025-boston-marathon-conner-mantz-us-american-runner-results/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJwTERaNFVYZ2RKaDQ3N200Y2VBMWsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoieTJHM2NDVlJ2ZnB1ejhSZjNYNkVVIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LmJvc3Rvbi5jb21cL3Nwb3J0c1wvYm9zdG9uLW1hcmF0aG9uXC8yMDI1XC8wNFwvMjFcLzIwMjUtYm9zdG9uLW1hcmF0aG9uLWNvbm5lci1tYW50ei11cy1hbWVyaWNhbi1ydW5uZXItcmVzdWx0c1wvIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). Despite missing the podium by a narrow margin, Mantz’s achievement was a testament to his growth and endurance as a long-distance runner.
### The Race Breakdown
The Boston Marathon is known for its unpredictable weather and grueling hills, particularly the infamous Heartbreak Hill. Mantz, alongside fellow BYU alumni **Clayton Young and Rory Linkletter**, remained in the lead pack for much of the race [B](https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2025/04/22/conner-mantz-boston-marathon-byu-clayton-young-rory-linkletter/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJwTERaNFVYZ2RKaDQ3N200Y2VBMWsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoieTJHM2NDVlJ2ZnB1ejhSZjNYNkVVIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LnRoZWNodXJjaG5ld3MuY29tXC9tZW1iZXJzXC8yMDI1XC8wNFwvMjJcL2Nvbm5lci1tYW50ei1ib3N0b24tbWFyYXRob24tYnl1LWNsYXl0b24teW91bmctcm9yeS1saW5rbGV0dGVyXC8ifQ%3D%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). However, as the final miles approached, Kenya’s **John Korir** surged ahead, ultimately winning the race with a time of **2:04:45** [A](https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon/2025/04/21/2025-boston-marathon-conner-mantz-us-american-runner-results/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJwTERaNFVYZ2RKaDQ3N200Y2VBMWsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoieTJHM2NDVlJ2ZnB1ejhSZjNYNkVVIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LmJvc3Rvbi5jb21cL3Nwb3J0c1wvYm9zdG9uLW1hcmF0aG9uXC8yMDI1XC8wNFwvMjFcLzIwMjUtYm9zdG9uLW1hcmF0aG9uLWNvbm5lci1tYW50ei11cy1hbWVyaWNhbi1ydW5uZXItcmVzdWx0c1wvIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). Mantz fought hard in the closing stretch but was edged out by Tanzania’s **Alphonce Simbu** and Kenya’s **Cyprian Kotut**, who finished just seconds ahead of him [B](https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2025/04/22/conner-mantz-boston-marathon-byu-clayton-young-rory-linkletter/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJwTERaNFVYZ2RKaDQ3N200Y2VBMWsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoieTJHM2NDVlJ2ZnB1ejhSZjNYNkVVIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LnRoZWNodXJjaG5ld3MuY29tXC9tZW1iZXJzXC8yMDI1XC8wNFwvMjJcL2Nvbm5lci1tYW50ei1ib3N0b24tbWFyYXRob24tYnl1LWNsYXl0b24teW91bmctcm9yeS1saW5rbGV0dGVyXC8ifQ%3D%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
### A Rising Star in American Distance Running
Mantz’s performance at the Boston Marathon was not an isolated success. He had previously established himself as a top U.S. distance runner during the **2024 Summer Olympics**, further proving his ability to compete at the highest level [A](https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon/2025/04/21/2025-boston-marathon-conner-mantz-us-american-runner-results/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJwTERaNFVYZ2RKaDQ3N200Y2VBMWsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoieTJHM2NDVlJ2ZnB1ejhSZjNYNkVVIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LmJvc3Rvbi5jb21cL3Nwb3J0c1wvYm9zdG9uLW1hcmF0aG9uXC8yMDI1XC8wNFwvMjFcLzIwMjUtYm9zdG9uLW1hcmF0aG9uLWNvbm5lci1tYW50ei11cy1hbWVyaWNhbi1ydW5uZXItcmVzdWx0c1wvIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). His marathon time in Boston shattered his personal best, surpassing his previous record of **2:07:47** from the 2023 Chicago Marathon by over two minutes [A](https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon/2025/04/21/2025-boston-marathon-conner-mantz-us-american-runner-results/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJwTERaNFVYZ2RKaDQ3N200Y2VBMWsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoieTJHM2NDVlJ2ZnB1ejhSZjNYNkVVIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LmJvc3Rvbi5jb21cL3Nwb3J0c1wvYm9zdG9uLW1hcmF0aG9uXC8yMDI1XC8wNFwvMjFcLzIwMjUtYm9zdG9uLW1hcmF0aG9uLWNvbm5lci1tYW50ei11cy1hbWVyaWNhbi1ydW5uZXItcmVzdWx0c1wvIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
### Looking Ahead
Despite narrowly missing a podium finish, Mantz remains optimistic about his future in marathon running. “You always have a goal to win, but the goal was to prove that I could be in a position to win,” he said after the race [A](https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-marathon/2025/04/21/2025-boston-marathon-conner-mantz-us-american-runner-results/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJwTERaNFVYZ2RKaDQ3N200Y2VBMWsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoieTJHM2NDVlJ2ZnB1ejhSZjNYNkVVIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LmJvc3Rvbi5jb21cL3Nwb3J0c1wvYm9zdG9uLW1hcmF0aG9uXC8yMDI1XC8wNFwvMjFcLzIwMjUtYm9zdG9uLW1hcmF0aG9uLWNvbm5lci1tYW50ei11cy1hbWVyaWNhbi1ydW5uZXItcmVzdWx0c1wvIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1). His confidence and determination suggest that he will continue to be a strong contender in major marathons in the years to come.
### BYU’s Legacy in Distance Running
Mantz’s success is part of a larger trend of BYU alumni excelling in distance running. His fellow BYU graduates, **Clayton Young and Rory Linkletter**, also finished among the top seven in the Boston Marathon
