A remarkable achievement unfolded in Auckland as 15-year-old Sam Ruthe made history, becoming the youngest person ever to complete a mile in under four minutes. On Wednesday night, he finished the race in an astonishing time of 3:58.35 at the ACA Mile Night, just 24 days shy of his 16th birthday.
This milestone highlights Ruthe’s immense potential in athletics, paralleling the previous record held by Norwegian star Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who was 16 years and 250 days old when he achieved a time of 3:58.07 in 2017. Australian runner Cameron Myers also made headlines earlier this year, completing the mile in 3:55.44 at 16 years and 259 days.
The event saw fellow Kiwi and Olympian Sam Tanner win the race with a time of 3:58.29, as he offered encouragement to Ruthe throughout. After crossing the finish line, a modest Ruthe raised his arms in a subtle acknowledgment of his accomplishment, later expressing his joy, stating, “This was probably my favourite goal that I’ve reached. I’ve definitely enjoyed this one the most, with all the people here supporting me.”
In a prior race in Auckland, Ruthe also broke Ingebrigtsen’s age-15 record for the 1500m, clocking in at 3:41.25, further signifying his exceptional talent.
The support from the crowd during this historic run was palpable, enhancing the significance of the moment for Ruthe. As his remarkable achievement begins to sink in, the young athlete is set to embark on what promises to be a thrilling career ahead in middle-distance running.