TALLAHASSE, Fla. – No. 5 BYU men’s cross country runner Conner Mantz clocked a course record 22:47.0 in the men’s 8K to seize first place and help the team finish fourth at the FSU XC Invite/Pre-Nationals at Apalachee Regional Park on Friday.

Mantz began the race with a brief stay in eighth place but charged past runners from No. 1 Northern Arizona, No. 2 Notre Dame and host Florida State over the last 3,000m. The reigning individual national champion recorded a 2:43.7 split and finished 2.5 seconds ahead of runner-up Adriaan Wildschutt of Florida State.

"This was an outstanding race for Conner," said BYU men's cross country head coach Ed Eyestone. "It was a real challenge for Conner to face Wildschutt on his home course today, but Conner showed how strong he can be with that extra speed at the end." 

Following Friday’s victory, Mantz has now recorded six consecutive first-place finishes and 10 for his career. In 19 collegiate cross country meets, the senior from Smithfield, Utah has never finished outside the top-10.

Teammate Casey Clinger joined Mantz in the top-10 at eighth with a time of 23:06.0, just a fraction of a second off a new 8K personal record. After lingering between 12th and 15th through the first 3,000m, Clinger pulled into the top-10 and never relinquished his spot down the stretch.

The sophomore from American Fork, Utah has now posted nine top-10 finishes in 12 career meets.

Brandon Garnica was the third BYU runner to cross the finish at 19th with a time of 23:34.0. Lucas Bons, Aidan Troutner, Adam Wood, Creed Thompson and Zac Jacklin rounded-out the Cougars’ results on Friday.

"Runners one through four have been very consistent for us this season, but we really need to develop our fifth man as we prepare for nationals," said Eyestone. "Today's result keeps us humble and hungry." 

BYU’s 131 points were good for a fourth-place finish, ahead of six ranked teams, including a 72-point advantage over No. 2 Notre Dame. The Cougars joined No. 8 Arkansas and No. 7 Colorado in a logjam between second and fourth place. No. 1 Northern Arizona took the team title with a score of 63.

In-state foes No. 25 Weber State and UVU came in 16th and 19th, respectively, while West Coast Conference-foe Santa Clara finished 22nd.

No. 5 BYU will look to extend its reign atop the WCC as the team returns to action at the league’s cross country championships on Friday, Oct. 29 at Newhall Community Park in Concord, California.

Following the WCC Championships, BYU will host the NCAA Mountain Regional at Timpanogos Golf Club in Provo, Utah on Friday, Nov. 12. The Cougars will compete then with the goal of returning to Apalachee Regional Park as it plays host to the NCAA National Championships on Saturday, Nov. 20. 

*Photo Credit: Ben Sheehan

BYU Individual Results 

Pre-Nationals Top-10 Results | Team

Pre-Nationals Top-10 Results | Individual

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – No. 5 BYU men’s cross country will return to action in the FSU XC Invite/Pre-Nationals at Apalachee Regional Park on Friday, Oct. 15. 

Meet Information

• FSU XC Invite/Pre-Nationals
• Host: Florida State
• Location: Apalachee Regional Park | Tallahassee, Florida (Florida State will welcome the NCAA Cross Country Championships to Apalachee Regional Park on Saturday Nov. 20)
• Men's 8K Garnet Race: 8 a.m. EDT
• Results
• Tickets - fans in attendance are expected to wear masks

The Cougars conclude the regular season with Pre-Nationals after seizing first place at both the Autumn Classic in Provo, Utah on Sept. 11 and the Roy Griak Invitational in St. Paul, Minnesota on Sept. 24.

BYU’s win at Griak came over now No. 6 ranked Iowa State.

Senior runner Conner Mantz took first among individuals at both September meets and was subsequently recognized as USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week on Sept. 27 and West Coast Conference Men’s Runner of the Month on Oct. 8.

Despite the team’s September success, recent weeks have seen the Cougars slip from No. 3 to No. 5 in the USTFCCCA national rankings.

With 11 ranked teams competing at Pre-Nationals, the meet provides BYU with a perfect opportunity for a final showcase and climb in the polls prior to the WCC Championships on Oct. 29. No. 1 Northern Arizona, No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 7 Colorado and No. 8 Arkansas are just a few of the teams the Cougars will face in a robust field of 39.

BYU will also face WCC-foe Santa Clara as well as in-state opponents No. 25 Weber State and UVU in Tallahassee.

Running for BYU at Pre-Nationals

Conner Mantz

Casey Clinger

Aidan Troutner

Brandon Garnica

Lucas Bons

Zac Jacklin

Creed Thompson

Davin Thompson

Joey Nokes

Adam Wood

Meet the Host

• Florida State cross country is led by head coach Bob Braman. In 21 seasons with the Seminoles, Braman’s teams have made the NCAA Cross Country Championships 14 times with 19 top-10 finishes.