Marathon Dreams Deferred: Mantz's Unforeseen Absence and Teammates' Quest for Glory in Boston
Conner Mantz's Unstoppable Streak Halted by Unexpected Injury
Conner Mantz, the esteemed Olympic marathoner hailing from BYU and Smithfield, Utah, has built an impressive record of eight consecutive marathons since 2022, achieving seven top-seven placements and setting an American record. This sustained excellence is a rare feat in a sport known for its demanding training regimens, often involving 125-mile weeks, and the inherent risks of the 26.2-mile race. However, this extraordinary run has unfortunately come to an end.
Withdrawal from Boston Marathon: A Prudent Decision
Mantz was initially scheduled to participate in Monday's Boston Marathon but withdrew three weeks prior due to a sacral stress fracture. His long-time coach, Ed Eyestone, commented on the difficulty of pulling out, especially for an American record holder in high demand. Eyestone underscored the importance of not competing at a reduced capacity, stating, "We didn't want to go there at 80 percent. We need to protect the Mantz brand. We need to respect the event and the marathon and the distance and the competition. This is not the local fun run."
A Look Back at Mantz's Illustrious Professional Career
After leaving BYU in 2021, following two individual NCAA cross country championships, Mantz transitioned into professional road racing and marathoning. With the exception of the 2023 Boston race, he has consistently been the top American finisher in seven of his eight races, clocking times of 2:09:00 or faster each time, demonstrating continuous improvement year after year. His 2025 season was particularly stellar, marked by four American records in road events (20 kilometers twice, half-marathon, and marathon), three consecutive victories in major road races, including the U.S. 20K championships, and fourth-place finishes in the highly respected Boston and Chicago Marathons. In the Chicago Marathon, he shattered a 22-year-old American record by nearly a minute, finishing in an astounding 2:04:43. Eyestone lauded this achievement, remarking, "I don't know if there's been a better year for an American for a long time." Mantz's absence from Boston this year will be keenly felt.
Clayton Young's Journey to the Boston Marathon
Clayton Young, another former BYU NCAA champion and Olympian, and Mantz's training partner, is confirmed to run in Boston. However, Young has also faced training challenges, or "hiccups" as Eyestone described them. Since his ninth-place finish in the September world championships, Young has struggled with staying healthy. He was compelled to withdraw from the Valencia (Spain) Marathon in December due to an injury. Eyestone noted the compressed training period: "Clayton is going into this one not having had a perfect build either. We had to shut him down in December. Usually we have a 16-week (training) build to a marathon; we're going to see how it goes with a 10-week build."
Rory Linkletter's Ascent and Strong Form for Boston
Another former BYU athlete, Rory Linkletter, is also set to compete in Boston on Monday. Like Mantz and Young, Linkletter has been on an impressive run of form. He established a new Canadian record for the half-marathon just two months ago in Houston with a time of 59:49, and has represented Canada in both the world championships and the Olympic Games. Last year, he secured sixth place in the Boston race (2:07:02) and ninth in the Chicago Marathon (2:06:49) in the fall. Eyestone expressed confidence in Linkletter's preparation, stating, "He's had a very good build. I think he'll run well."
Kodi Kleven's Participation and Mantz's Future Outlook
Kodi Kleven, a former runner from BYU and Utah Valley University, will also be competing in Boston. She holds three St. George Marathon titles and the course record of 2:28:41. Regarding Mantz, Eyestone indicated that the team is still deliberating on his next race and its timing. The coach remains optimistic about Mantz's return, affirming, "He's going to be fine. He'll be back. He's got a lot of good years left. At the end of the day, it's not the worst thing to miss a race after eight successful marathons in a row. One of the most difficult parts of this sport is having highly motivated and talented athletes who want to do more and more. It might be a good thing to take a break from another race."