Clayton Young (born 14 September 1993) is an American long-distance runner, who competes for Asics. He ran collegiately for Brigham Young University, and won the 10,000 metres at the 2019 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He set a personal best of 2:08:00 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, finishing seventh. Young finished second at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, qualifying him for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Running career
High school and college
Young attended American Fork High School in American Fork, Utah. He is a 2011 All-American at the Nike Cross Nationals.[3] He won the 2010 Utah High School Activities Association 5A Cross Country Championship individual title.[4]
While competing for Brigham Young University, he set personal bests of 13:31 for 5000m and 28:18 for 10000m. In 2019, he secured a national title in the 10000m, finishing with a time of 29:16.60.[5]
Professional
After completing his collegiately eligibility at BYU in June 2019, Young turned professional, signing with Asics.
He debuted in the marathon at the 2020 U.S. Olympic marathon trials in Atlanta in a time of 2:29:46.[6]
In his second marathon at the 2021 Chicago Marathon, he set out at 2:12 pace, splitting a time of 1:06:11 through halfway.[7] However over the final few kilometers he faded slightly, still managing a 13 minute personal best finishing in a time of 2:16:07.
Returning Young finished 18th at the 2022 Chicago Marathon in 2:11:51 as the fifth American finisher.[8]
In 2023, he secured national titles in both the 8km and 20 km US Road Running Championships.[9][10] At the 2023 Chicago Marathon, Young earned seventh place overall and second American with a time of 2:08:00, a time that met the Olympic qualifying standard of 2:08:10.[11][12]
Young entered the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials with the second fasted seed time with his 2:08 mark from the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Young was able to stay with the lead pack as several pre-race favourites fell off the pace and by mile 19, the lead pack consisted of just three men: Zach Panning, Young, and his training partner Conner Mantz. Around mile 22, Panning fell off the pace leaving Young and Mantz as the two leaders. The two celebrated their all but certain qualification for the Olympics through the last few miles. At the finish line, Young allowed Mantz to take the win as both men earned a spot to represent the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics with Young finishing in his second best marathon time ever of 2:09:06 to Mantz's 2:09:05.[13]
Personal life
He took a two-year hiatus from competitive running after high school to undertake a mission to Raleigh, North Carolina. Missions are a customary practice for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon returning in 2015, Young redshirted his first year at Brigham Young University (BYU).[3] Clayton and Ashley Young are married with 2 girls, Lucy (b. 2019) and Jenna (b. 2021).[14]
Achievements
Information from athlete's profile on World Athletics, unless otherwise noted.[15]
Marathons
| Year | Competition | Performance | Position | Place | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials | 2:29:46 | 136th | Atlanta, Georgia | 29 Feb 2020 |
| 2021 | 2021 Chicago Marathon | 2:16:07 | 13th | Chicago, Illinois | 10 Oct 2021 |
| 2022 | 2022 Chicago Marathon | 2:11:51 | 18th | Chicago, Illinois | 9 Oct 2022 |
| 2023 | 2023 Chicago Marathon | 2:08:00 | 7th | Chicago, Illinois | 8 Oct 2023 |
| 2024 | 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials | 2:09:06 | 2nd | Orlando, Florida | 3 Feb 2024 |
BYU
Results sourced from athlete's profile on the Track & Field Results Reporting Service (TFRRS).[16]
| Representing BYU Cougars | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Year | West Coast Conference Cross Country Championships |
NCAA Cross Country Championships |
MPSF Indoor Track Championships |
NCAA Indoor Track Championship |
NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track Championships | |
| 2018–19 Senior | 11th 24:05.9 |
72nd 30:25.2 |
4th 4:00.77 Mile |
3rd 7:55.86 3000 m |
1st 29:16.60 10,000m | |
| 6th 13:45.35 5000 m |
6th 14:09.00 5000m | |||||
| 2017–18 Junior | 5th 23:29.1 |
105th 30:47.4 |
20th 8:09.24 3000 m |
23rd 31:37.54 10,000m | ||
| 12th 14:02.17 5000m | ||||||
| 2016–17 Sophomore | 7th 24:42.2 |
23rd 30:43.9 |
4th 9:50.53 DMR |
9th 8:02.11 3000 m |
17th 29:39.80 10,000m | |
| 10th 14:38.45 5000m | ||||||
American Fork High School
Results sourced from athlete's profile on Athletic.net.[17]
| Year | Nike Cross Nationals | Great Southwest T&F Classic | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 24th 15:50.0 |
|||||
| 2010 | 96th 17:44.7 |
3200 m 9:22.92 1st | ||||
| 2009 | 61st 16:00.1 |
|||||
| Representing American Fork High School at Utah High School Activities Association | ||||||
| Year | Cross Country class 5A state championship |
UHSTCA Indoor Championships | Outdoor Track and Field class 5A state championship | |||
| 2011–12 | 15:31.2 3rd place |
3200 m 9:40.47 13th | ||||
| 1600 m 4:26.3 8th | ||||||
| 2010–11 | 15:23.9 1st place |
3200 m 9:22.92 2nd |
3200 m 9:19.09 3rd | |||
| 1600 m 4:16.21 3rd | ||||||
| 800 m 1:56.30 5th | ||||||
| 2009–10 | 15:43.6 4th place |
3200 m 9:13.02 2nd | ||||
| 1600 m 4:22.43 3rd | ||||||
| 800 m 1:55.87 5th | ||||||
| 2008–09 | 16:56.4 45th place |
3200 m 10:03.44 12th | ||||
References
- ^ {{}}
- ^ Clayton Young at World Athletics
- ^ a b "Clayton Young – Men's Cross Country 2017". BYU Athletics – Official Athletics Website – BYU Cougars. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
- ^ Oct 20 Utah 5A State Cross Country Championships Athletic.net
- ^ LetsRun.com (2019-06-05). "Clayton Young and BYU Earn Redemption, Young Sprints to 2019 NCAA 10K Title". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Clayton Young - U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon". www.atlanta2020trials.com. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ "Bank of America Chicago Marathon". chicago-history.r.mikatiming.com. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
- ^ Knapp, Mike. "Conner Mantz Runs 2nd Fastest American Debut Marathon- 2:08:16". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ Bush, Scott (2023-07-23). "USA Track & Field | Young Outduels Tough Competition at the USATF Men's 8 km Championship". usatf.org. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ Shaw, Clay (2023-09-05). "Sisson and Young Win USATF 20k Championships in New Haven". Runner's Gazette. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
- ^ "Conner Mantz And Clayton Young Become First Americans To Run Olympic Qualifying Times At Chicago Marathon". 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ "American Men Have the Day They Needed at the 2023 Chicago Marathon". Runnersworld.com. 8 Oct 2023. Retrieved 11 Oct 2023.
- ^ Battaglia, Joe (2024-02-03). "Conner Mantz, Clayton Young Finish 1-2 At U.S. Olympic Trials Mens Marathon". FloTrack. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ^ Clayton Young Interview running state of the sport
- ^ Clayton Young at World Athletics
- ^ Clayton Young Brigham Young University results TFRRS
- ^ Clayton Young prep bio American Fork High School Athletic.net
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