She Married an Olympic Marathoner Then Discovered Her Own Talent

Kylie Mantz, a senior at Brigham Young University, is experiencing a fresh start. In January, she joined BYU’s prestigious cross-country and track program as a walk-on just two months after the team clinched its sixth NCAA cross-country title.

What makes her story unique? She didn’t run in high school and only started consistent training in 2023.

Inspired by her husband, 2024 Olympic Marathon Trials champion Conner Mantz, Kylie began running out of curiosity and quickly discovered she had a natural talent.

In a recent workout known as “The Michigan,” she ran a mile in 5:03 a personal best and the first interval of the session.

“It all happened so fast I didn’t even process it,” Kylie said. She lost contact with the group later in the workout but viewed it as a valuable learning experience.

Although she’s new to the sport, Kylie is embracing every moment of growth. “I’m not at the level of the others on the team, but the progress I’ve made is exciting,” she said.

Kylie grew up in Clovis, California, where she occasionally ran to unwind after school.

Although she briefly joined her middle school’s track team, she left due to the pressure and pursued other interests like student leadership and music.

She began college at BYU in 2019 and met Conner in a religion class.

Not knowing he was a collegiate runner, she asked about the BYU track backpack he wore. Their connection quickly developed, and they started dating.

When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down in-person learning, Kylie returned home and later began an 18-month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Vancouver, Washington.

Communication during the mission was limited, and though she told Conner he could move on, he continued writing her weekly.

While she was away, Conner’s running career skyrocketed. He won two NCAA titles and signed a professional contract with Nike in 2021.

They reunited when she returned in 2022, and Conner proposed soon after.

The couple married that October.

Adjusting to life with a professional athlete was challenging. Kylie couldn’t understand how draining marathon training could be until she decided to try it for herself.

“I thought, you don’t really get what he’s going through unless you do it too,” she said.

About six months into their marriage, she started running regularly.

Conner helped guide her early efforts, encouraging her to structure her training. By April 2023, she joined BYU’s club track team and began formal workouts.

Despite minor injuries early on, Kylie learned to value recovery and proper fueling.

That summer, she was healthy and consistent in her training. Her first official race came at the Bryan Clay Invitational, where she clocked a 17:19 in the 5,000 meters.

Feeling energized by her debut, Kylie asked BYU women’s coach Diljeet Taylor about trying out for the team

Coach Taylor was immediately supportive. “It’s important for her to have her own dream too, especially while supporting someone with big goals,” she said.

In the summer, Conner competed in the marathon at the Paris 2024 Olympics, finishing eighth.

That fall, Kylie was juggling student teaching with 5 a.m. training runs. Conner supported her efforts, helping prepare meals and cheering her on during treadmill sessions.

In January, she officially tried out for BYU’s team during a two-week trial period.

Thanks to her preparation, she impressed coaches with her endurance and effort.

While workouts were modified slightly, she kept pace with the team.

Coach Taylor noted Kylie’s drive.

“She gave everything she had in every hard workout,” she said. Timing also played a role, as the team had an open roster spot and Kylie had one remaining season of eligibility.

Now, Kylie embraces her competitive spirit, a shift from her earlier hesitations in middle school.

“I’ve always been someone who puts everything into what I care about,” she said. “Running is another space where I can push my limits.”

She first raced in a BYU uniform on April 4 at the Stanford Invitational, running the 10,000 meters in 34:57 averaging 5:37 per mile. The night before, Conner offered a reminder: “There’s power in representing something meaningful.”

Though she wasn’t the fastest, Kylie felt proud. “I had worked so hard for this, and it felt like everything was finally coming together,” she said.