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sports1h ago
‘I think I could run even faster’: the NZ teenager shattering athletics records
- Sam Ruthe, at 16, ran the fastest indoor mile ever by someone under 18, clocking 3.48.88 in Boston.
- The win came at Boston University's Terrier Classic, where Ruthe overtook Belgian Olympian Pieter Sisk in the final lap.
- The performance marked the fastest mile ever run by an athlete under 18 and moved Ruthe into elite global company.
- Ruthe had previously broken the four-minute mile barrier in 2025 at age 15, setting the stage for his current milestone.
- Coach Craig Kirkwood called Ruthe a ‘phenomenon’ and highlighted the supportive training environment around him.
- Ruthe credits a supportive home life and genetics as part of his success, including a family with strong running lineage.
- Sam says he enjoys racing where his mind goes blank and his body takes over during fast races.
- Ruthe aims for Commonwealth Games selection and World Junior Championships while balancing school commitments.
- Kirkwood emphasizes a cautious training approach, with three sessions per week to build skills gradually.
- Ruthe’s family background includes a mother who won national titles and a grandmother who was a gold medalist for Scotland.
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