For the second consecutive year, Scott Fauble was the top U.S. man at the Boston Marathon. He placed seventh in 2:09:44, one place and 21 seconds behind world record-holder Eliud Kipchoge.
Matthew McDonald was the second U.S. finisher, placing tenth in 2:10:17, an improvement over his 14th-place finish here last year. Conner Mantz was the third U.S. man across the line, placing 11th in 2:10:25. Mantz ran with the lead pack through 19 miles, when a strong move by eventual runner-up Gabriel Geay of Tanzania broke the race open.
CJ Albertson was the only U.S. man besides Mantz to run with the leaders early on. He lost contact in the 16th mile and finished 12th in 2:10:33. Albertson, the 50K world record-holder, is known for leading the 2021 Boston through 20 miles.
Unlike Mantz and Albertson, Fauble chose to hold back when Kipchoge set off at course-record pace. He hit a tough patch at halfway, which he passed in 1:03:59 as part of a nine-man chase pack. The leaders were 1 minute and 40 seconds ahead.
“I didn’t know where the leaders were, I didn’t know what place I was in, my legs didn’t feel good,” Fauble said. “I made a deal with myself: ‘You’re going to try as hard as you can every step of this race.’ I figured I might as well go and risk blowing up and hope the legs are there and that I can run some people down.”
Fauble, who has also been the top U.S. finisher at New York City by moving up late in the race, said his come-from-behind strategy made sense today. “Hopefully the next step is being able to be up front, but I knew that would be disastrous today,” he said.
Mantz stuck by his decision to go with the leaders from the start.
“Yeah, I could have placed better if I’d gone out slower, but I went for it,” he said. “As long as I felt comfortable [with the pace], I was going to stay with the pack.”
After losing touch in the 16th mile, Mantz, who has a 2:08:16 PR from his debut in Chicago last fall, was still thinking he’d run 2:08 or faster late in the race.
“Mile 23, I passed Kipchoge, and that was pretty cool,” he said. “I kind of waved, like, sit on me, we can take turns leading each other. Instead, he just flew by me. At mile 24, I started blacking out a little. I just hit a wall.”
Albertson also stuck by his early strategy.
“How to Watch the NCAA XC Championshipsth if I’d hung back with the second pack, but it’s more fun running up front,” he said.
Albertson said there was only a mild headwind early on, but he was still surprised that Kipchoge ran as he did.
“I was thinking, ‘I can’t believe he’s leading from the gun,’” he said. “[Winner Evans] Chebet was just chilling in the back of the pack.”
Scott is a veteran running, fitness, and health journalist who has held senior editorial positions at Runner’s World and Running Times. Much of his writing translates sport science research and elite best practices into practical guidance for everyday athletes. He is the author or coauthor of several running books, including Great World Race: Results, Advanced Marathoning, and The 2025 Marathon and Half Marathon Calendar. A Part of Hearst Digital Media Slate, The Atlantic, the Washington Post, and other members of the sedentary media. His lifetime running odometer is past 110,000 miles, but he’s as much in love as ever.
