Conner Mantz Is Racing His First Marathon Since Breaking the 23-Year-Old American Marathon Record. This Sunday, He’ll Take on the Streets of New York.

Conner Mantz broke the American marathon record last October in Chicago with a time of 2:04:43, surpassing Khalid Khannouchi's 23-year-old record. He finished sixth overall, nearly one minute faster than Khannouchi's 2002 London time.

After his record-breaking race, Mantz suffered a sacral stress fracture that sidelined him for 12 weeks. He jumped back into training too quickly after Chicago, hoping to earn a medal at the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Florida. The injury forced him into pool workouts and physical therapy instead.

Mantz returned to outdoor running just two weeks before meeting with Runner's World. He ran 20 miles along the Provo River Parkway Trail at a 5:45 pace at 4,500 feet of elevation. He described that run as a struggle, saying "My legs just sank into the ground" when he first ran outside again.

The 29-year-old marathoner, who trains under coach Ed Eyestone at Brigham Young University, aims to compete in the New York City Marathon this Sunday. His goal is to break his own American record and eventually earn a podium spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.