On the heels of a historic marathon in Boston, Conner Mantz has a chance to make history in Boulder.
Last month, Mantz was the top American finisher at the Boston Marathon, placing fourth overall. Moreover, his time of 2 hours, 5 minutes, 8 seconds was the second-fastest time by an American male in the prestigious history of the Boston Marathon.
As he has the past two years, Mantz will try to push the pace in a shorter distance, as the two-time defending champion of the men’s pro race returns to Colorado for the 45th Bolder Boulder on Monday, seeking a third consecutive victory.
“That would be a huge one. Bolder Boulder is so iconic,” Mantz said of a possible three-peat. “You look down that list, the people who have won it are all very accomplished. It’s fun to look down the list and see who’s won it. Historically, it’s a great race. A three-peat there, I would love to do, but that’s going to be a very hard thing to accomplish based on where my training’s at.”
Mantz is one of five runners to collect back-to-back wins the men’s pro race at the Bolder Boulder 10K, a club that also includes Arturo Barrios (1986-87), Thomas Osano (1991-92), Ridouane Harroufi (2007-08) and Allan Kiprono (2012-13). Although Barrios ultimately won four titles in eight years, no other men’s runner has collected three Bolder Boulder pro championships, let alone three in a row. Two women — Rosa Mota and Deena Drossin — have won three consecutive Bolder Boulder pro races. Ethiopia’s Mamitu Daska owns the race record with six titles, but she never won three consecutively.
Mantz will face plenty of competition in his attempt at history. Including from two runners with whom he has shared thrilling finishes over the past year.
While the rosters for the four American teams (two men, two women) were finalized two weeks ago, on Friday the Bolder Boulder announced the remainder of the pro field. Highlighting that list is Eritrea’s Yemane Haileselassie, who entered Folsom Field neck-and-neck with Mantz at last year’s Bolder Boulder before the American surged ahead to the finish line.
Also in the field is Ethiopia’s Addisu Gobena, who put together a photo finish with Mantz at the Houston Half Marathon in January. Both runners were clocked officially at 59:17, but Godena crossed the finish line just fractions ahead of Mantz, who still took home the U.S. men’s half-marathon record.
“It’s one of the more fun races as a pro,” Mantz said. “There’s two reasons you race. One is because you find that race very fun. And two, you’re going to make money from it, to be honest. Bolder Boulder has great prize money, but the big reason is it’s a fun experience. It’s a fun race. I loved cross country in high school, and it’s probably one of the most cross country-esque road races you run because there’s so many turns in that course. It’s hilly, but what I think makes the Bolder Boulder course so difficult is there’s a million turns. A lot for a 10K.
“It’s enjoyable. It’s a fun race. And running into that stadium, there’s nothing like it. The Olympics, you get a little bit of it at Boston, you get a little bit at the New York City Marathon. But running into (Folsom Field), that’s pretty cool every year.”
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