Conner Mantz Ready to Break American Marathon Record in Chicago

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The Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced Conner Mantz will return to run the 2025 race in an attempt to break the American record. Mantz, the reigning U.S. Marathon champion and the top American finisher at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has his eyes on Khalid Khannouchi’s record of 2:05:38, which has stood since 2002. 

 With his performances in 2025, Mantz has shown he is the most legitimate threat to Khannouchi’s place atop the all-time list in more than a decade. In January, he shattered Ryan Hall’s 18-year-old American record in the half marathon by running 59:17 at the Houston Half Marathon. He bettered that time by two seconds at the NYC Half Marathon in March. Then in April, Mantz fought a headwind to finish fourth in the Boston Marathon, a non-record eligible course, with a time of 2:05:08. Although he’s had the American record on his mind for some time, Mantz believes he now possesses the speed and the fitness needed to break it.

 “I feel ready to run at that pace,” said Mantz. “After Boston, where I finished with guys who have run 2:02 and 2:03, it doesn’t feel like a stretch to say I can run 2:05:30 on a looped, flat course.”

 Mantz made his Bank of America Chicago Marathon debut in 2022. He went on to finish seventh that year in a time of 2:08:16. He returned to Chicago the following year bettering his time by 29 seconds, making him the fifth fastest American marathoner of all time. That's when he first got the idea to chase the American record.

 “I want to get the American record in the U.S.,” Mantz said. “I’m well prepared. On the right day, you can do something pretty special in Chicago.”

 “Conner has reached a level where he can make and achieve big goals,” said Ed Eyestone, Mantz’s coach and the 1994 Chicago Marathon runner-up. “Chicago is the perfect location for him to combine his consistency and confidence in a build that will hopefully culminate in the American record.”

 Mantz will be chasing Khalid Khannouchi’s American record, which has stood for 23 years. Moroccan-born American Khannouchi has strong ties to Chicago. He made his marathon debut here in 1997, winning in 2:07:10 to set course, debut and North American records. He returned in 1999 to set a new world record (2:05:42) and become the first man to break 2:06. After becoming an American citizen in May of 2000, he returned to Chicago in October setting the then American record, only to lower his time and set the current record two years later at the London Marathon. Khannouchi will be in Chicago this October to celebrate should Mantz achieve his goal.

 “Holding the American record all of these years has meant the world to me,” said Khannouchi, four-time Chicago Marathon champion. “But, I don’t think it will be a bittersweet moment for me if the record gets broken this fall. We will all be rooting for Conner.”

 “The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a great American race in a great American city and it's where the American record belongs,” said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. “I look forward to seeing Conner run into Grant Park with time to spare so he can celebrate with all of the fans cheering him across the finish line.”

 Bringing the men’s American record back to Chicago would add yet another record run to the event’s history books. Since 2022, the women’s American record (Emily Sisson, 2:18:29, 2022), men’s world record (Kelvin Kiptum, 2:00:35, 2023), and women’s world record (Ruth Chepngetich, 2:09:56, 2024) have all been set here. 

 The 47th Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be held Sunday, October 12, 2025. Full professional athlete fields will be announced later this summer.