Clayton Young Shines with Personal Best at Boston Marathon
Clayton Young, the esteemed Olympic marathoner and former national champion from BYU, recently showcased an impressive comeback at the Boston Marathon. Despite facing an ankle injury that sidelined him for 18 weeks, he decided to compete in the iconic race on April 17, 2023.
Clayton Young’s Personal Best at Boston Marathon
Young achieved a personal record of 2:05:41, significantly improving from his prior best of 2:07:04 set on the same course a year earlier. This remarkable time ranks him as the fifth-fastest American in history on point-to-point marathon courses.
Race Summary
The 130th Boston Marathon witnessed an impressive performance from Young, who finished 11th overall. Although he expressed disappointment in breaking his streak of top-10 finishes, his time solidifies his status among elite marathon runners.
Top Finishers
- Winner: John Korir (Kenya) – 2:01:51 (course record)
- 2nd Place: Runner under 2:03
- 3rd Place: Runner under 2:03
- 5th Place: Zouhair Talbi (U.S.-citizen, native Moroccan)
- 7th Place: Charles Hicks (British-American)
- 14th Place: Rory Linkletter (Former BYU teammate) – 2:06:04 (personal record)
Injury and Recovery
Young faced a challenging training regimen due to his ankle injury. He cross-trained for 4½ months before gradually returning to running just weeks prior to the Boston event. Young managed an aggressive training schedule, hitting 130 miles per week in the final month before the race.
Despite a short preparation phase, Young’s unique circumstances may have contributed to his refreshing performance. He noted improvements in areas that had previously troubled him, including his heel and right calf.
Upcoming Challenges
Based in recent discussions, Conner Mantz, Young’s training partner and a record-holder from BYU, was unable to participate due to his own injuries. As both athletes continue to navigate their road to recovery, Young remains positive about his progress and future competitions.
The Boston Marathon results have set new benchmarks in distance running, with Young’s performance being a testament to resilience and determination.
