Mantz, who finished in 2:04.43, became the fastest American marathon runner in history after he broke the multi-decade old record by 55 seconds. The record was set in 2002 by former marathon world record holder Khalid Khannouchi. Khannouchi’s record held for twenty-two years before being broken early Sunday morning. Mantz finished fourth overall in the race just two minutes behind race leader and Ugandan Olympic bronze medalist, Jacob Kiplimo.

Mantz, a former Cougar cross country and track star, graduated from BYU in 2021 after taking first overall in the 2021 NCAA Cross Country National Championship. The BYU graduate has since gone on to run professionally for Nike being coached by former BYU athlete and current cross country and track & field head coach Ed Eyestone. Mantz broke the American half marathon record earlier this year and finished eighth in the Marathon at the 2024 Paris Olympic games.

Running alongside Conner was BYU alumni Rory Linkletter, Casey Clinger, Aidan Troutner and Creed Thompson. Linkletter became the second fastest Canadian marathon runner in history after finishing ninth overall in 2:06.49. The former Cougar, who is also coached professionally by Eyestone, graduated from BYU in 2019.

Troutner and Clinger made their professional marathon debuts finishing 18th and 25th respectively. Troutner, Clinger and Thompson helped the Cougars win the 2024 NCAA Cross Country National Championship before Clinger and Thompson signed to run professionally with Brooks.

BYU alum and Olympian Clayton Young provided color commentary for the event alongside Eyestone.

Big Noon Kickoff returns to Provo

FOX Sports announced Sunday that its popular national pregame television show Big Noon Kickoff will be broadcast live from BYU on Saturday, Oct. 18, beginning at 8 a.m. MDT.

Later that day, No. 15 ranked BYU will host No. 23 ranked Utah in the Cougars’ annual homecoming game slated for 6 p.m. MDT on FOX. The game features the first ranked meeting between the two teams since 2009.

Making its second trip to BYU in consecutive seasons, the two-hour Big Noon Kickoff pregame show and tailgate party will be held in the west parking lot of LaVell Edwards Stadium. Set at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, Edwards Stadium is one of the most picturesque settings in college football.

Big Noon Kickoff is hosted by Rob Stone along with analysts Mark Ingram II, Matt Leinart, Urban Meyer and Brady Quinn. The show provides a preview of the day’s top college football games from across the country. Saturday’s show will also include detailed analysis and coverage of the Big 12 matchup between BYU (6-0, 3-0) and Utah (5-1, 2-1).

“We are excited to welcome FOX Big Noon Kickoff to Provo,” said Brian Santiago, BYU director of athletics. “It’s a great opportunity for BYU to showcase our football program and LaVell Edwards Stadium, one of the best game-day environments in all of college football. Our football team, The ROC and Cougar Nation are ready to welcome the world to our campus. On behalf of BYU, I would like to thank FOX Sports and Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and his staff for this opportunity. We look forward to an exciting day of football.”

Additional details about FOX Big Noon Kickoff at BYU will be announced throughout the week on BYUcougars.com and through BYU football social media channels.

Cougar Nation is encouraged to arrive early to enjoy the tailgate festivities, including live music, interactive games and special guest appearances.

Women’s volleyball victorious against Houston

No. 21 BYU women’s volleyball earned a 3-1 (25-17, 25-27, 25-19, 25-17) win over Houston at the Smith Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon in front of 3,500 fans at the Smith Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon in its annual Breast Cancer Awareness match.

The blue Cougars out-hit Houston, .233 to .173 and also recording 11 more kills (54 to 43). BYU also had four more aces than Houston (11 to seven) and seven less service errors (14 to seven). Both teams had six blocks.

Alex Bower posted her fourth double-double of the year with 42 assists and 14 digs while Claire Little Chambers had her third 20-kill match of the season, finishing with 21. Suli Davis joined her in double figures with 15 kills. Brielle Kemavor tallied six while Anna Blamires and Sophia Callahan both added four.

Lulu Uluave picked up a start in the contest and had both a game- and season-high 16 digs to go along with six assists. Kemavor carded four blocks. Little Chambers and Abby Hoybjerg had two apiece. Uluave served a trio of aces. Little Chambers, Elli Mortensen and Hoybjerg each had two.

The Bears scored the clincher in the 85th minute,

BYU (15-2 overall, 3-2 Big 12) has a huge home match coming up Thursday against No. 8 Arizona State, with first serve scheduled for 6 p.m. MT at the Smith Fieldhouse.

No. 14 Baylor outscores women’s soccer, 4-2

WACO, Texas – BYU women’s soccer led twice but fell to the No. 14 Baylor Bears, 4-2 at Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field on Friday night.

Despite leading 1-0 in the first half and 2-1 in the 53rd minute, BYU was unable to hold the advantage, as Baylor scored three straight goals to win the matchup.

Mattyn Summers-Oviatt scored her second goal of the season in back-to-back games, giving the Cougars momentum late in the first half. Ellie Walbruch followed in the 53rd minute with a goal off assists from Mia Goettsche and Camryn Jorgensen, her sixth of the season.

The Bears had not given up two goals all season, but BYU became the first team to do so.

Baylor and BYU each had 15 shots, with the Bears putting eight on goal compared to seven for the Cougars. Baylor also led in corner kicks, 8-4, and converted one of them.

In the 35th minute, less than a minute after coming off the bench, Summers-Oviatt drove into the box, beat two defenders and sent the ball into the bottom center of the net to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead over the Bears, making them the first team to lead Baylor at home all season.

Less than five minutes after the Cougars’ goal, Baylor answered with a corner kick from Kai Hayes that slipped into the bottom center of the net, past Collins’ left leg to tie up the game.

In the 53rd minute, Goettsche crossed to Jorgensen, who fed the ball to Walbruch in the box. Walbruch tapped it in, giving the Cougars the lead and making BYU the first team all season to score twice against the Bears.

Baylor responded almost immediately, with Tyler Isgrig driving the ball through traffic into the bottom right corner of the net 13 seconds later to tie the game.

In the 59th minute, Isgrig sent a shot from the top of the box into the top right corner of the net to give the Bears their first lead of the game at 3-2. Baylor scored the clincher in the 84th minute, a goal by Theresa McCullough.

After posting a 1-1-1 record with three straight road matches, BYU (7-4-2 overall, 2-3-1 Big 12) returns to South Field for a stretch of three Big 12 challengers. Arizona comes to Provo on Thursday with kickoff at 7 p.m. MST.