NZ prodigy, 15, youngest to run sub-four-minute mile
Fifteen-year-old Sam Ruthe is the 49th New Zealander to run a four-minute mile
- Published
New Zealand's Sam Ruthe has become the youngest person in history to run a sub-four-minute mile, aged 15.
The middle-distance prodigy ran a record time of three minutes 58.35 seconds in wet conditions at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium.
Pacemakers Sam Tanner (3:58.29) and Ben Wall (3:59.00) also broke the four-minute barrier.
Ruthe has already broken a number of records in 2025, becoming New Zealand's youngest senior national champion when he won the 3,000m - in another world-record time for his age - in February.
He proceeded to finish in a tie for first with Olympian Tanner to earn a share of the senior 1500m title in March.
"This was probably my favourite goal that I've reached," Ruthe said after his latest record-breaking run.
"I've definitely enjoyed this one the most, with all the people here supporting me.
"This has been the most set up for me, so I'm really happy to have gotten this one."
The four-minute mile has long been a middle-distance running benchmark with Britain's Sir Roger Bannister, aged 25, the first to beat that mark in 1954.
Norway's two-time Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen ran the mile in 3:58.07 at the age of 16, while Australian Cam Myers's 3:55.44 is currently the best time for a 16-year-old.