Conner Mantz stormed through the streets of Boston to clock 2:05:08, finishing fourth overall at the 2025 Boston Marathon. The time marks the second-fastest marathon ever run by an American on the storied course, trailing only Ryan Hall’s 2:04:58 set in 2011.
Mantz, 27, executed a nearly flawless race plan, positioning himself strategically within the lead pack and remaining a visible presence at the front until the final 5K, where the decisive moves were made. Though ultimately edged out by a hard-charging trio—eventual winner John Korir of Kenya, Alphonce Simbu of Tanzania, and CyBrian Kotut of Kenya.
“I gave it everything,”Conner Mantz admitted post-race.
“When Korir surged, I tried to respond, and in that final kilometer, I thought I might have a shot. But they had one more gear on Boylston Street. It was a little humbling, but also incredibly motivating.”
The depth of U.S. talent was on full display, as Clayton Young, Mantz’s longtime training partner, clocked 2:07:04 to finish seventh, marking the third-fastest American time in Boston history. Despite struggling in the latter stages of the race, Young showed grit by moving up from 10th at 35 kilometers to a top-10 finish.
“There were moments when I felt like I couldn’t make it,” he confessed.
“At 20, you could say I was pretty broke. But I crossed that finish line knowing I left it all out there.”
Ryan Ford secured a 10th-place finish in 2:08:00, giving the U.S. three men in the Boston Marathon top 10.
Mantz ranks sixth all-time among Americans for record-eligible marathons (2:07:47), while Young’s new personal best ranks eighth.
Mantz’s U.S. record of 59:17 in Houston marked him as a potential world-stage disruptor. He predicted a 62-minute first half and a strong finish would secure victory.
Looking ahead, Mantz has already hinted at targeting even faster times on flat, record-eligible courses.
“If this race had been on a course like Chicago,” he said.
“I would have aimed for 2:04:30 to 2:05:00.”
