Sam Ruthe Is First 15-Year-Old To Run A Four-Minute Mile!

New Zealand’s Sam Ruthe has made history by becoming the first 15-year-old to run a sub-four-minute mile.

At the ACA Mile Night at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, Ruthe ran a remarkable 3:58.35. He’s the youngest person to ever run the time.

There was a lot of anticipation of Ruthe running beneath the four-minute barrier, and this was likely his last attempt as a 15-year-old, with his 16th birthday in less than a month.

Ruthe ran behind two pacers, including his training partner and Olympian Sam Tanner – a 3:49 miler. The pressure of the occasion was no problem for Ruthe who took more than two seconds off of his previous best time.

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Ruthe’s time comes after a strong summer of running and he’s on an impressive running trajectory, chasing times of some of the world’s best runners. Jakob Ingebrigtsen ran 3:58.07 as a 16-year-old, and the current best for that age is 3:55.44 by Australia’s Cam Myers.

Over New Zealand’s summer Ruthe has won two senior titles – in 3000m and 1500m – and in doing so has run 7:56 for 3000m (a world best for his age and distance), and 3:41 in the 1500m, which put him on track for a sub-four attempt.

With the men’s 1500m and mile already some of the most exciting distances over the track, names like Ruthe and Myers ensure there are great new challengers coming through.

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