"Sam had intended to fall in behind his training partner, the New Zealand Olympian Sam Tanner, at the John Thomas Terrier Classic—a prestigious annual indoor meet at Boston University on 31 January. But shortly into the race Tanner injured his leg and pulled out. Ruthe appeared unfazed, overtaking the Belgian Olympian Pieter Sisk in the final lap to cross the finish line in first place, with a time of 3.48.88. It was the fastest mile ever run by an athlete under 18, and was the 11th fastest time ever recorded for an indoor mile."
"After the race, Sam told a television crew that he had just travelled 50 hours from New Zealand to attend the race, and was feeling a bit heavy. I think I could run even faster but I'm super stoked with that, he said, with a degree of humility that has become typical of Sam's reactions to his accomplishments."
"He has been billed as a phenomenon, a sensation and a prodigy by media and the athletics world but he is not aiming for records, he told the Guardian in February at the end of his US trip. I'm just lucky to be in fast races. If I can race people in a race that goes fast then my time ends up being quick."
Sam Ruthe, a 16-year-old New Zealand runner, achieved remarkable milestones in 2025. He became the youngest person ever to break the four-minute mile barrier at age 15. In January at Boston University's John Thomas Terrier Classic, Ruthe ran 3:48.88, the fastest mile ever recorded by an athlete under 18 and the 11th fastest indoor mile time overall. This performance broke the New Zealand mile record of 3:49.08 set by John Walker in 1982. Despite traveling 50 hours from New Zealand and feeling fatigued, Ruthe overtook Belgian Olympian Pieter Sisk in the final lap after his training partner Sam Tanner withdrew due to injury. Ruthe maintains a humble approach to his accomplishments, focusing on racing fast competitors rather than pursuing records.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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