Read the title. To me, it looks like he traded getting the American record in a stronger field for winning his first major. I know he could've won this without a doubt in my mind.
If only running marathons was like the diamond league track and you had to do several in succession. I'm pretty sure CJ Albertson would not have to trade in anything and could've run sub 2:10s in Chicago and New York. There should be a category for that as well. I'm actually serious. It would be impressive to see.
Honestly though man, what’s there to be disappointed about? Dude ran the AR and has been 4th and just off the podium in his last two WMMs. Plus an Olympian. If he runs Boston in April, who’s to say he can’t at least try to run with reckless abandon finally and go for the win, even if he ends up fading to like 8th place? Who cares? It’s a good year to try with the Olympics and AR in the rear view mirror…
And if we always decided races by PBs Jimmy Gressier wouldn’t be a gold or bronze medalist. Your analogy is flawed. This was a race, not a time trial. Conner Mantz’s Chicago effort would have won this race today.
If we decided races by PBs, Gressier would indeed not be a gold medalist. But we don't. We decide them by running races. And since Mantz didn't run NYC, then by your own analogy, no one can say how Mantz would have done. So the Gressier example simply points to the fact that you can't say anything certain about how Mantz would have done in NYC. It obviously doesn't somehow support the notion that Mantz would have won.
The pace the last few miles up 5th Ave and through central park were in the 4:50s. That may seem pedestrian for marathoners who can easily go sub 2:02. But they all hit those very hilly sections after already getting beat up going over the Verrazano Narrows bridge at the start and the Queensboro Bridge, which is a beast. So your PR on a flat course does not really predict what you can do at NYC.
I think Mantz had a shot to win overall. His training for the 2:04 was race specific. If he had trained for NYC, he would be well trained for the hills. #1 & 2 closed the marathon in low 4:%0's pace. Very easy for Mantz to cover after their "fun run" of a first half.
I think Mantz had a shot to win overall. His training for the 2:04 was race specific. If he had trained for NYC, he would be well trained for the hills. #1 & 2 closed the marathon in low 4:%0's pace. Very easy for Mantz to cover after their "fun run" of a first half.
From 21>end (Kipruto in NY 2025 v. Mantz in Chicago 2025)
21: 5:08 vs 4:49 22: 4:40 vs 5:05 23: 4:41 vs 4:52 24: 4:39 (up the hill); vs 4:47 25: 4:30; vs 5:05 26: 4:22 vs 5:06 185 yards: :58 vs (unknown)
Now Mantz's time was 3:16 faster overall than Kipruto - but my point with the above is that in a sit and kick the last 10K race that was NY yesterday, I wouldn't just declare Mantz would win....I think that's way too speculative.
Yes, the same way 16 runners beat a 2:01 marathoner today. On the day, in this same race, Conner Mantz would have won.
That’s a pretty bad analogy. Your 2:01 marathoner is about a 2:15 one now.
As another poster pointed out, Kipruto has run 2:02 and Mutiso is almost 1:30 faster than Mantz over the HM.
Kipruto has won multiple majors (Boston, Tokyo, New York), and is a 2:02:16 man. Majors record: 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 7, 7. Olympics: 3.
Mutiso has won a major and has run 2:03:11. Majors record, all in London: 1, 3.
Mantz just PBed to run 2:04:43, and has won NOTHING MAJOR IN HIS LIFE. (Just domestic wins.) Chicago track record: 4, 6, 7. Boston: 4. Olympics: 8. He is a minor placings guy.
I don't think we have to take anything away from Mantz, while recognizing that Kipruto & Mutiso are studs. I think Mantz could've been in that sprint finish, but I also could see him getting dropped & battling it out for 3rd. Kipruto's resume is much different from Mutiso, Mantz, & the guys who beat Mantz @ Boston last spring. 4x major titles, 1x 2nd, 3x 3rd, 1x Olympic bronze, 2:02-low PB. Mutiso has a London win. Korir has Boston + Chicago wins. Simbu won the World Champs this year.
Head to head, my money would be on Kipruto. Mantz is definitely closing the gap + it's nice to see multiple Americans running 2:09/2:10 at an honest major, with a 2:08 winning time.
From 21>end (Kipruto in NY 2025 v. Mantz in Chicago 2025)
21: 5:08 vs 4:49 22: 4:40 vs 5:05 23: 4:41 vs 4:52 24: 4:39 (up the hill); vs 4:47 25: 4:30; vs 5:05 26: 4:22 vs 5:06 185 yards: :58 vs (unknown)
Now Mantz's time was 3:16 faster overall than Kipruto - but my point with the above is that in a sit and kick the last 10K race that was NY yesterday, I wouldn't just declare Mantz would win....I think that's way too speculative.
that's pretty impressive to lay down a 4:22 final mile in the nyc marathon. connor could probably run 5:00 flat for the first 25 and still not do that.
I don't think we have to take anything away from Mantz, while recognizing that Kipruto & Mutiso are studs. I think Mantz could've been in that sprint finish, but I also could see him getting dropped & battling it out for 3rd. Kipruto's resume is much different from Mutiso, Mantz, & the guys who beat Mantz @ Boston last spring. 4x major titles, 1x 2nd, 3x 3rd, 1x Olympic bronze, 2:02-low PB. Mutiso has a London win. Korir has Boston + Chicago wins. Simbu won the World Champs this year.
Head to head, my money would be on Kipruto. Mantz is definitely closing the gap + it's nice to see multiple Americans running 2:09/2:10 at an honest major, with a 2:08 winning time.
lots of americans in the top 10 but none of them with a real chance to win unless something goes wrong. that's pretty much how it seems like it is. that's the sad state of affairs with american distance running. but we're used to it!
I don't think we have to take anything away from Mantz, while recognizing that Kipruto & Mutiso are studs. I think Mantz could've been in that sprint finish, but I also could see him getting dropped & battling it out for 3rd. Kipruto's resume is much different from Mutiso, Mantz, & the guys who beat Mantz @ Boston last spring. 4x major titles, 1x 2nd, 3x 3rd, 1x Olympic bronze, 2:02-low PB. Mutiso has a London win. Korir has Boston + Chicago wins. Simbu won the World Champs this year.
Head to head, my money would be on Kipruto. Mantz is definitely closing the gap + it's nice to see multiple Americans running 2:09/2:10 at an honest major, with a 2:08 winning time.
lots of americans in the top 10 but none of them with a real chance to win unless something goes wrong. that's pretty much how it seems like it is. that's the sad state of affairs with american distance running. but we're used to it!
Again though, Mantz has been just off the podium in his last two WMMs. I think he probably would’ve been 3rd in NYC. Since he’s achieved most of his goals, I think he can start focusing on podiums or wins. Unless he has contracts that keep on incentivizing ARs over podiums.