Mantz named WCC runner of the month

SAN MATEO, Calif. – BYU men’s cross country runner Conner Mantz was named September West Coast Conference Men’s Runner of the Month, the conference announced on Friday.

The reigning WCC individual champion continued his dominant career in the opening month of the 2021 season with consecutive first place finishes at the Autumn Classic on Sept. 11 and Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 24.

Mantz battled with Wesley Kiptoo of No. 10 Iowa State throughout the men’s 8K at Griak. As the two All-Americans approached the finish, Mantz pulled ahead from Kiptoo with a final burst of speed, edging the Cyclone runner by one second to seize first place.

Mantz’s individual win also paved the way for BYU to finish first at Griak, ahead of then No. 10 Iowa State and No. 26 Michigan State.

The USTFCCCA awarded Mantz National Athlete of the Week on Sept. 27 for his performance at Griak.

Prior to the Griak Invitational, the senior from Smithfield, Utah started off the season with a win at the Autumn Classic in Provo, Utah on Saturday, Sept. 11.

Mantz has now won five consecutive meets and nine for his career.

This marks back-to-back seasons in which Mantz had received the league’s monthly award. Mantz was recognized as WCC Men’s Runner of the Month for his second-place performance at the Oklahoma State Invitational in October 2020.

 Mantz's Month