The Houston Half Marathon lived up to its reputation for fast times and big moments, but this year’s race took things to a whole new level. On a less than picture-perfect morning, Conner Mantz stormed to the finish line in second place, clocking a time of 59:17, smashing the previous American half marathon record of 59:43 held by Ryan Hall since 2007. Cue the fireworks!

Who Was Eyeing The American Record?
Coming into the race, all eyes were on four athletes, each with a real shot at making history. First up, Conner Mantz, the scrappy Utah kid who’s been making waves since his college days. A two-time NCAA cross-country champ, Mantz is known for his never-say-die attitude and a motor that just doesn’t quit. He’s already clocked an impressive 1:00:55 for the half and is building towards being an all-time American great, with a podium finish at the 2022 Chicago Marathon, a win at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, a solid eighth place at the Paris Olympic marathon and a strong sixth place at the New York City Marathon last November.
Then there’s Clayton Young, Mantz’s charismatic long time training partner from the BYU Track Club. This 2019 NCAA 10,000m champ has been steadily building his resume, inching closer and closer to that big breakthrough. With a personal best of 1:01:24, Young was looking to make a big jump to get the record.
Diego Estrada brought a mix of experience and swagger to the race. An Olympian who represented the U.S. in the 10,000m way back in 2012, Estrada’s been around the block and a pro’s pro. His half marathon best of 1:00:51 had him in prime position to take a swing at the record.
And let’s not forget Joe Klecker, who trains in Boulder, Colo. and is a rising star in American distance running. With parents who’re both Olympians, running is literally in Klecker’s DNA. He’s already racked up national titles in the 10,000m and boasts a half marathon PR of 1:01:00.
WHAT A FINISH 🏅: It was a sprint to the finish line in the men’s Aramco Houston Half Marathon! pic.twitter.com/zC9wQ4MtE1
— Charly Edsitty (@CharlyABC13) January 19, 2025
How The Race Played Out
Despite freezing conditions and blistering winds, the race kicked off fast and furious, with the men setting a blistering pace right from the start. However, the only American in the mix by the halfway point was Mantz.
Out of a lead group of four runners through the 15K mark, it was Mantz and Adisu Gobena who fought to the line in one heck of a sprint finish. A fight all the way to the line, in the end, it was Gobena who nipped Mantz for the win. The American, however, was still pleased with his new record and second place finish (plus the $18,000 pay day it came with, no doubt).
“The half marathon is how I got into running,” he said following the race, adding that it was his dad who encouraged him to finish a half when he was 12.