At last year’s BolderBoulder, Americans swept the titles in all four professional races for only the second time in the event’s history. All four of the 2023 champions will return to defend their titles at this year’s race which will take place on Memorial Day, May 27. This will be the 44th running of the race that began in 1979.
Conner Mantz (professional men), Emily Durgin (professional women), Howie Sanborn (professional men’s push-rim wheelchair), and Kendall Gretsch (professional women’s push-rim wheelchair) all claimed victory at last year’s race and have confirmed their participation in this year’s race.
Mantz, who won an epic battle last year that saw him rally from fourth place over the last 800m to claim victory in a time of 29:08, recently won the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon to qualify for this summer’s Paris Olympic Games. But before he competes in Paris he will toe the line in Boulder looking to defend his 2023 BOLDERBoulder title. “I’m coming back because I had such a wonderful experience last year, offered Mantz via Zoom. “There is something special about BOLDERBoulder. It’s just fun. The finish in the full stadium is like nothing else in the sport. My wife has a lot of family in the area as well, so when I told her I was considering it she’s like, “yes, yes, yes” 100 times.” Mantz, a native Utahan, currently resides in Provo and represents Nike.
Durgin, like Mantz, competed in the Olympic Trials in February where she finished ninth in a time of 2:27:56. At last year’s BOLDERBoulder she won in dominating fashion as she crossed the line in Folsom Field stadium 24 seconds ahead of runner-up Daisy Kimeli of Kenya. Her winning time was 33:24. Over the weekend she won her first USATF national title as she captured the 10 Mile Championships in Washington D.C. Durgin who is originally from Standish, ME now resides in Flagstaff, Arizona and represents adidas.
Sanborn, of Denver, captured his first BB10K title last year as he defeated 2022 champion Tyler Byers in time of 24:57. This year’s race falls on Sanborn’s 42nd birthday. “I am coming back seeking to earn an even bigger piece of the cake,” stated Sanborn. Sanborn is a retired U.S. Army veteran who served 15 years as an Airborne Ranger and demonstrator on the U.S. Army Parachute Team.
Gretsch, from Colorado Springs, returns to the BB10K seeking her third straight win in the women’s push-rim race wheelchair race. In 2022 she captured her first title in a time of 28:03 and then last year won in a time of 27:30. “I’m excited to be coming back for this year’s race. It’s always such a fun race that I’ve enjoyed doing every year since I moved to Colorado,” stated Gretsch. Gretsch is a three-time Paralympian. Competing in the Triathlon in the summer games and Nordic Skiing and the Biathlon in the winter games she has won 4 gold, 1 silver, and 1 bronze medal. She has won 29 medals, including 17 gold, at world championship competitions.
BOLDERBoulder is recognized by Runner’s World Magazine as America’s All-Time Best 10K! Over 40,000 runners are expected to participate this year with the professional men’s and women’s races starting last and finishing in front of a capacity crowd inside the University of Colorado’s iconic Folsom Field. Immediately following the conclusion of the professional races the traditional Memorial Day Tribute will take place.