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15yo Kiwi runner becomes youngest ever to break four-minute mile

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 19 Mar 2025, 8:41pm
Sam Ruthe. Photo / Photosport
Sam Ruthe. Photo / Photosport

15yo Kiwi runner becomes youngest ever to break four-minute mile

Author
NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Wed, 19 Mar 2025, 8:41pm

New Zealand鈥檚 middle-distance prodigy Sam Ruthe has become the youngest person in history to break the four-minute mile barrier.

The 15-year-old from Tauranga became the 49th New Zealander to break the four-minute mile doing so at a wet Go Media Stadium tonight.

Olympian Sam Tanner helped lead Ruthe in the second half of the race, setting the pace for the teenager towards the finish line.

Ruthe eventually finished second behind Tanner in three minutes 58.35 seconds.

Ben Wall also broke the mark for the first time in three minutes 59 seconds, as all three went under four minutes. Tanner won in a time of three minutes 58.29 seconds.

Ruthe has been making headlines all summer. He first shattered the 15-year-old world best for 3000m in November, then lowered it twice more鈥攎ost recently running seven minutes 56.18 seconds in Hastings.

That victory also made him the youngest-ever senior national champion in any event.

Then, at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships, he did the unthinkable鈥攖ying for gold in the senior 1500m with Tanner.

Their three minutes 44.31 seconds dead heat was unprecedented in national history.

Ruthe鈥檚 trajectory places him among the sport鈥檚 most elite teenage milers.

Two-time Olympic Champion and current three-time world record holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway, ran three minutes 58.07 at 16. Australia鈥檚 Cam Myers set the former record for a 16-year-old at three minutes 55.44 seconds.

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