The 2024 BOLDERBoulder 10K showcased thrilling victories as Conner Mantz and Grace Loibach Nawowuna emerged as champions in the men's and women's elite races, respectively. This year's event had 100,000 spectators, who witnessed exhilarating performances and paid tribute on Memorial Day.
Conner Mantz Defends Title in Dramatic Finish
Conner Mantz, aiming to defend his title from last year, faced stiff competition throughout the race. In post race interviews, Mantz admits he struggled to break away on the uphill stretches. As he neared the downhill approach to Folsom Field, he dug deep to make one more big push for the lead. In a close final sprint, Mantz surged past Eritrea's Yemane Haileselassie in the last 250 meters, clinching victory by a mere 1.8 seconds. His winning time of 29:12 secured his status as the first back-to-back champion since Allan Kiprono in 2012-13 and only the sixth U.S. citizen to win the pro race since 1984.
Grace Loibach Nawowuna Dominates Women's Race
In the women's elite race, Kenya's 20-year-old sensation Grace Loibach Nawowuna left no room for doubt about her dominance. She powered through the course, setting a blistering pace from the start and maintained her lead to finish. She won the race in 32:45.3. Her performance not only secured her the BOLDERBoulder title but also marked the fastest time since 2018 and the ninth-fastest in race history.
Grace has consistently demonstrated her prowess on the global stage with impressive 10k performances in 2023 and 2024. Almost a year ago, on June 3, 2023, in The Netherlands, Nawowuna clocked a blistering 10K time of 29:47.42 - ranking as the 11th fastest in history. Her remarkable consistency was further underscored at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic, where she posted another impressive 10K time of 30:34.86.
Team USA and Team Kenya Win International Team Challenges
The prize purse for this year's International Team Challenge is valued at $83,700 before performance bonuses. USA White team and Team Kenya emerged victorious in the international team competitions. Led by Sam Chelanga's third-place finish, USA White team claimed the men's title, while Kenya's strong showing, anchored by Nawowuna, secured the women's team victory.
The USA White team included Sam Chelanga who secured third place with a time of 29:21, Biya Simbassa (fifth, 29:37.39) and Reed Fischer (eighth, 29:41.97). Their team victory was the first for the USA since 2017. Conner Mantz was on the USA Red team who finished second behind the USA White team. Mantz ran with fellow BYU alums Clayton Young (seventh, 29:38.47) and Jared Ward (14th, 32:05.50).
For Team Kenya, Nawowuna's winning performance, along with Sarah Naibei's seventh-place finish in 33:53.62 and Daisy Kimeli's ninth-place effort in 34:30.96, secured Kenya's first team title in the womens' team race since 2016.
Emily Durgin, helped the US secure a third place finish in the women's team competition. Durgin's strong performance, alongside Sarah Hall's 10th place finish in 34:35.19 and Nell Rojas' 11th place effort in 35:02.02, led to their podium finish. USA Team CU - a team of University of Colorado alums placed fourth in the team standings. This team was led by sixth-place finisher Makena Morley, who posted a time of 33:49.64, Carrie Verdon (eighth, 33:54.69) and Sara Vaughn (15th, 36:32.37).
Tuning Up for Olympic Marathon in Paris
The BOLDERBoulder 10K served as a pivotal tune-up for Conner Mantz and Clayton Young as they prepared for the upcoming Paris Olympic Marathon in August. For Mantz, the race provided a valuable opportunity to push himself to the limit and refine his race tactics ahead of the Olympics. Alongside Mantz and Young, recently confirmed teammate Leonard Korir will be toeing the line in Paris.
Next Year's Race and Paris Olympics
Save the date for the 2025 BOLDERBoulder 10K, taking place Memorial Day, May 26, 2025! Additionally, mark your calendars for the Paris Olympic Marathon on August 10th, where Mantz, Young, and Korir will represent Team USA.
Pro Men's Top 15 Finishers
1. | Conner Mantz | USA | 29:12.51 |
2. | Yemane Haileselassie | ERITREA | 29:14.31 |
3. | Sam Chelanga | USA | 29:21.16 |
4. | Reuben Mosip | KENYA | 29:30.72 |
5. | Biya Simbassa | USA | 29:37.39 |
6. | Milkesa Mengesha | ETHIOPIA | 29:38.33 |
7. | Clayton Young | USA | 29:38.47 |
8. | Reed Fischer | USA | 29:41.97 |
9. | Raymond Magut | KENYA | 30:03.28 |
10. | Josphat Too | KENYA | 30:15.34 |
11. | Tsegay Tuemay | ERITREA | 30:18.68 |
12. | Abraham Herdandez | MEXICO | 30:39.11 |
13. | Alene Belay | ETHIOPIA | 30:47.33 |
14. | Jared Ward | USA | 32:05.50 |
15. | Tesfu Tewelde | ERITREA | 32:29.03 |
Pro Women's Top 15 Finishers
1. | Grace Loibach Nawowuna | KENYA | 32:46 |
2. | Siranesh Yirga | ETHIOPIA | 33:20 |
3. | Anahi Alvarez | MEXICO | 33:26 |
4. | Emily Durgin | USA | 33:35 |
5. | Birhan Mulugojam | ETHIOPIA | 33:49 |
6. | Makena Morely | USA | 33:50 |
7. | Sarah Naibei | KENYA | 33:54 |
8. | Carrie Verdon | USA | 33:55 |
9. | Daisy Kimeli | KENYA | 34:31 |
10. | Sara Hall | USA | 34:36 |
11. | Yumi Yoshikawa | JAPAN | 35:44 |
12. | Asnakesh Awoke | ETHIOPIA | 35:49 |
13. | Miku Hirashima | JAPAN | 36:08 |
14. | Margarita Hernandez Flores | MEXICO | 36:48 |
15. | Isabel Oropeza Vazquez | MEXICO | 37:17 |
Men's International Team Results
Women's International Team Results
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