Born on December 8, 1996, Conner Blair Mantz is an American long-distance runner. Besides that, he also featured in the NCAA Division I college at Brigham Young University where he was the champion in 2020 and 2021. Mantz started his professional career with Nike in 2021, and he took the seventh and sixth place in the 10,000 meters and 5000 meters at the 2020 US Olympic trials. In December 2021, he won the USA Half Marathon Championships in Hardeeville, South Carolina, and finished fifth in 1:01: 40 at the NYC half marathon.
Mantz earned a national championship at the USATF 20 km road championships in September 2022 and made his marathon debut at the 2022 Chicago Marathon, finishing sixth in 02:08:16. His effort was the second-fastest marathon debut by an American, just behind Leonard Korir's debut record of 02:07:56.
Mantz spent most of the Boston Marathon in 2023 running with the front pack, reaching the halfway point in 01:02:20. He finished third among Americans in 02:10:25 at mile 24. He managed to shave off his personal best time by 29 seconds and stood sixth at the end of 2023, while becoming the leading athlete from the USA, allowing him to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
Conner Mantz’ Coach
Conner Mantz is coached by Ed Eyestone, a two-time Olympic marathoner, long-distance runner, and an NCAA coach. Conner met Ed Eyestone at BYU. In an interview with LetsRundotcom, Conner said that Ed Eyestone was the reason he chose BYU because he looked at what Eyestone had accomplished.
Eyestone was born on June 15, 1961. He was a co-partner in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA), a long-distance runner, and a two-time Olympic marathoner. He attended Brigham Young University where he earned a master’s degree in exercise science. As of May 2024, he works as a BYU Track Head Coach since 2013 and BYU Head Cross Country Coach since 2000.
The BYU track coach Ed Eyestone after watching Conner Mantz and Clayton Young finish 1-2 at the Olympic Marathon Trials in an interview with LetsRundotcom said: “We all have great days in our lives. Mine were getting married, the birth of my six daughters … This will go down as a great day, too. I’ll have a smile on my face for the next five months.”
Ed Eyestone’s Parents
Ed Eyestone is the son of Bob and Virginia Eyestone.
Both Ed Eyestone’s parents hold a postgraduate degree. They both were educated and accomplished parents and this was reflected in all five of their children who excelled in school and won scholarships for writing, music, drama, and athletics. As noted in the book, “Trials and Triumphs,” later the Eyestone children become singers, architects, actors, writers, musicians, beauty queens, and runners.
Ed’s mother, Virginia’s ancestors were Mormon pioneers. Eyestone explains “My mom’s side all hoofed it across the plains. Most notably, Edward Shields Reid, who was born in Wales and came across the plains in 1861 at the age of 2, much of it astride his father Edward Reid’s shoulders. Apparently, the Reids are known for their endurance.”
Ed Eyestone’s Wife
Ed Eyestone is married to Lynn Eyestone and is the parent of six daughters.
Ed Eyestone’s Coaching Career
Ed Eyestone started his coaching career at Weber State University as an assistant coach from 1996 to 1998. In 2000, Eyestone rejoined BYU as an assistant coach for men's track and head coach of the cross-country team. In 2013, he was promoted to head coach of the track program. Coach Eyestone has been the Mountain West Conference's (MWC) "Coach of the Year" three times.
In Kampala, Uganda, for the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Coach Eyestone was appointed head coach of Team USA.
After taking over as the coach in 2000, Eyestone has led BYU to the top-25 finish at the NCAA Championships in each season which includes top-10 finishes in 2004 (fifth), 2008 (ninth), 2011 (fourth), 2012 (sixth), 2013 (fourth), 2016 (seventh), 2017 (third), 2018 (second) and 2019 (first) Eyestone has guided BYU to 17 conference titles, including eight in the Mountain West Conference in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and nine in the West Coast Conference in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Eyestone also made history by being the first man to both coach a Division I team to a national championship and win an individual NCAA Division I Cross Country Championship. Eyestone was given the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's 2019 "Men's National Coach of the Year" award.
Conner Mantz left BYU to compete in marathons in Chicago and Boston, but Eyestone remained the coach, and his name was still referenced in the running press. Eyestone coached both the BYU alums Conner Mantz and Clayton Young and both are the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics contenders.
Ed Eyestone Record
Two-time Olympian (1988, 1992)
| Year | Place (Time) |
| 1988 (Olympic Marathon, Seoul, Korea) | 29th (2:19:09) |
| 1992 (Olympic Marathon, Barcelona, Spain) | 13th (2:15:23) |
Five-time U.S. Road Racer of the Year
| Year | Race Placements |
| 1990 | First place finish at the Gate River Run 15K in Jacksonville, Florida. |
| 1991 - 1995 | Dominated the Bellin 10K Run in Green Bay, Wisconsin. |
| 1986 | Triumphed in the iconic Bay to Breakers race in San Francisco, CA, a victory that remains unmatched by any other American for over three decades. |
| 1991 | Secured the top spot in the Peachtree Road Race 10K in Atlanta, Georgia |
| 1993 | First place, Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota (2:14:34) |
Eight-time member of the U.S. Cross Country Team in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships
| Year | Medals |
| 1980 (Junior Men's Individual Race) | Bronze Medal |
| 1983 (Men's Team Event: USA) | Silver Medal |
| 1984 (Men's Team Event: USA) | Silver Medal |
| 1985 (Men's Team Event: USA) | Bronze Medal |
| 1986 (Men's Team Event: USA) | Bronze Medal |
Ed Eyestone Awards & Achievement
BYU Hall of Fame Inductee (1998)
Named 2012 Mountain Region Assistant Coach of the Year (Men's Track and Field)
Recognized as the 2019 Coach of the Year after winning an NCAA championship with his team.
Has mentored 17 All-Americans who won 27 All-America titles.
Coach of the Year for the WCC Men's Cross Country seven times in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Six-time MWC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year (2002, 2004-08)
Named 2009 Mountain Region Coach of the Year (Men's Cross Country)
Governor's State of Sport Award for Collegiate "Coach of the Year" in the State of Utah (2020)
Images of Ed Eyestone and Cooner Mantz
FAQ's On Conner Mantz coach
A. Ed Eyestone’s Personal bests are in 5000 meters (13:32.52), 10,000 meters (27:41.05), and Marathon (2:10:59)
A. Conner Mantz went to Sky View High School.
A. Conner Mantz’s hometown is Smithfield, Utah, U.S.
A. Conner Mantz’ full name is Conner Blair Mantz.
