The news desk
2024 Olympian Clayton Young plans to chase Conner Mantz's 2:04:43 American record at the Chicago Marathon on October 11, 2026. Earlier reporting said his MRI showed a 12-centimeter longitudinal split tear in his upper hamstring, while later reporting said the tear is in the tendon anchoring the hamstring to his pelvis. Doctors initially advised him to skip the race, but he decided to run. His personal best is 2:05:41 from the 2026 Boston Marathon, and he has shared a 38-song training playlist. Medical experts, coach Ed Eyestone, and Young himself have discussed the science and risks; chiropractor Josh Glass said the injury can feel fine and look normal on an MRI, but how it responds late in the race is unknown. The newest report previews the Chicago Marathon, noting Young's attempt alongside returning defending champions Jacob Kiplimo and Hawi Feysa, with Sharon Lokedi and Brigid Kosgei headlining the women's field. No further news yet on whether he will ultimately compete or break the record.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday features Clayton Young attempting the American record despite a 12-centimetre hamstring tear, with Connor Mantz's 2:04:43 North American record from 2025 as the target. Defending champions Jacob Kiplimo and Hawi Feysa return, while Sharon Lokedi and Brigid Kosgei headline a deep women's field.
Clayton Young, a 2024 Olympian, is set to return to the Chicago Marathon, the course where his marathon career took off. He is chasing Conner Mantz's 2:04:43 American record while managing a torn hamstring tendon.
Can an elite marathoner run 2:04 with a 12 cm hamstring tear? Clayton Young believes he can. Medical experts, coach Ed Eyestone, and Young himself break down the science and the risks behind his pursuit of the American record in Chicago. Chiropractor Josh Glass said it can feel good and look good on an MRI, but the unknown is how it will respond in the later stages of a race.
Clayton Young will chase the American marathon record at the October 11, 2026 Chicago Marathon, where Conner Mantz's 2:04:43 stands. Young's own PR is 2:05:41 from the 2026 Boston Marathon. He shared a 38-song playlist with Runner's World, and John Mayer's "In the Blood" remains his pre-race tradition.
2024 Olympian Clayton Young will race the Chicago Marathon with a torn hamstring tendon, a 12-centimeter split in the tendon that anchors his hamstring to his pelvis. His doctors' first advice was to skip the race, where he plans to go after Conner Mantz's 2:04:43 American record.
2024 Olympian Clayton Young's MRI revealed a 12-centimeter longitudinal split tear in his upper hamstring. He still plans to chase Conner Mantz's 2:04:43 American record at the Chicago Marathon on October 11.