Sam Ruthe, New Zealand teen breaks four-minute mile barrier

A 15-year-old Kiwi teenager has become the youngest person in history to break the magical four-minute mile barrier setting up a clash of the ages with an Aussie sensation.

Kiwi legend Sam Tanner (L) paced Sam Ruthe (R) to his record time. Picture: Getty

Kiwi teenager Sam Ruthe has created history by becoming the youngest person to ever break four minutes for a mile.

Still just 15 years old, Ruthe seemed to cruise across the finish line at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium in 3m 58.28s on Wednesday night.

The Tauranga Boys College student has been setting blistering times on the track all summer and was paced by Kiwi Olympic hero Sam Tanner as he attempted to break the four-minute mile mark.

“This was probably my favourite goal I’ve reached,” Ruthe told the New Zealand Herald. “Definitely enjoyed this one the most with all the people here supporting me.

“It was absolutely magical to cross with my training partner Sam, one of the nicest feelings ever.

Youngest sub 4min miler in history (Sam Ruthe - aged 15). He’s a big lad 🙌👏👆

⁦@j_ashworth656⁩ ⁦@poetwithpace⁩ ⁦@SPEEDIESIMONS⁩ pic.twitter.com/UpNdSEVVgc

— Fahmy Hardy (@Gazzarino10) March 19, 2025

“About an hour before I was getting a bit scared as it was hammering down. The rain seemed to clear perfectly in time for our race.”

Ruthe will now head to Melbourne for a showdown with Aussie running sensation Cam Myers at the Maurie Plant meet on March 29 at Lakeside Stadium.

New Zealand middle distance runner Sam Ruthe ran 3:58.35 at Mt Smart Stadium. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

Myers set the record for the fastest mile by a 16-year-old when he ran 3m 55.44 at the Maurie Plant meet in 2023.

Now 18, Myers is also in scintillating form in 2025, clocking an Under 20 world record time of 3m 47.48 in the Wanamaker Mile in New York last month.

Fellow Aussies Olli Hoare – who paced Myers’ record-breaking run in Melbourne two years ago – and Peter Bol are also set to race the 1500m at the Maurie Plant meet.

Ruthe’s dad, Ben, was a national 800m and 1500m record holder, and his mum, Jess won cross country titles across the ditch. Meanwhile his grandmother Rosemary won Commonwealth Games gold in the 800m in 1970.

New Zealand has a long and proud middle distance running tradition, with Ruthe set to lead the next generation.

Jack Lovelock won the country’s first 1500m Olympic gold in Berlin in 1926, with Peter Snell winning two 800m golds in 1960 and ‘64, and the 1500m gold in Tokyo.

John Walker won a dramatic 1500m finish at the Montreal games, and more recently, Nick Willis has a silver and bronze in the same distance in 2008 and 2016.

Originally published as Sam Ruthe, New Zealand teen breaks four-minute mile barrier